Norbruk – the importance of a good meal

Dedicated to providing tasty, nutritious food sustainably made, Norbruk has gone from strength to strength since its conception four years ago. Alongside running staff restaurants for local businesses, the organisation offers catering for a broad range of meetings, conferences, and events.

Norbruk had its humble beginnings in 2021 in Ålesund, a small city widely considered one of Norway’s most scenic – in fact, National Geographic has rated it amongst Europe’s most beautiful port cities. What started as a two-man operation has bloomed into a thriving business of close to 100 employees running 14 staff canteens and delivering top-notch catered food to a wide variety of events alongside efficient facility management services.

In 2023, the business expanded to the historic city of Trondheim, known internationally as a top gastronomic city with several Michelin-starred restaurants. “It’s been a very exciting journey,” says Ronny Kolvik, co-founder and COO of Norbruk. “Trondheim felt like a natural expansion for us, and the city has welcomed us with open arms.”

The team values working with local food producers and chefs to create unique, seasonal dishes that appeal to a variety of palates. “Our focus is on high-quality, nourishing food made from scratch with local ingredients,” Kolvik says. “Few things are better than sitting down to enjoy a good meal.”

Ronny Kolvik, co-founder and COO of Norbruk.

Making the most of local ingredients

Using the best of local, seasonal ingredients is fundamental to Norbruk’s philosophy. Sourcing fresh produce, award-winning cheeses, and other top-notch ingredients locally is more sustainable, supports small-scale local food producers, and gives the food the unique taste of home.

“Sunnmøre offers an excellent supply of fish and seafood that we’re very keen to make the most of, and there’s an abundance of high-quality ingredients in the Trondheim area,” Kolvik explains. “When people eat in our canteens or order catering from us, we want them to be experiencing the ingredients local to them.”

Collaborating with small local suppliers, avoiding the use of food that has to be transported long distances, and minimising food waste are just a few of the measures Norbruk takes to ensure its operations are as environmentally friendly as possible.

“Sustainability is the backbone of our business,” Kolvik says. “We always want to work with educated, knowledgeable chefs and colleagues who share these values and have creative solutions for avoiding food waste and utilising our fantastic local ingredients to the fullest extent.”

Tailored solutions for each client

Over the past four years, Norbruk has quickly gained a reputation as an excellent provider of staff cafeteria solutions. With a wide and diverse menu tailored to customers’ needs and wishes, the Norbruk team believes real, homemade food is key to functioning well and maintaining focus during a long workday.

While a nourishing, delicious meal can help us be productive throughout the day, lunch isn’t just about getting something to eat. Research shows that a staff cafeteria can improve employee productivity and well-being – it’s a meeting place that allows employees to relax, socialise, and recharge, offering a break from the day’s work with a good meal. A lot of employees appreciate a high-quality staff restaurant, and in fact, it’s an increasingly important factor in attracting and retaining personnel.

Norbruk is also well-known for high-quality catered food, and the team values tailoring services to suit the event and client’s needs and wishes as best as possible. According to Kolvik, a thorough dialogue with the customer every step of the way is crucial to delivering the best possible service. “We want to optimise the experience for all our customers, and we’re always pushing ourselves to do more and be better,” he says.

The experienced team offers comprehensive hospitality solutions for a wide range of events and occasions, providing both location and catering. Suitable for between 10 and 500 people, the spaces range from bright and comfortable meeting rooms to large halls perfect for special events like weddings and other celebrations.

With the knowledge that clean and tidy spaces are integral for a healthy and productive work environment, the organisation also delivers effective cleaning services through Nor Facility. The importance of well-maintained workspaces can’t be understated, as studies show that it’s integral to increasing motivation, productivity, and professionalism in addition to ensuring a safer workplace and improved employee health due to the reduced spread of germs and bacteria.

Web: www.norbruk.no
Facebook: Norbruk
Instagram: @norbruk_norge
LinkedIn: norbruk_norge