Copenhagen restaurant Noma, which currently sits at number one on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, has reported that it lost money in 2021.
A filing with the Danish Business Authority states that René Redzepi’s world-famous restaurant made a loss for the first time in four years, despite receiving Covid-19 support from the Danish government.
The restaurant recorded a very small profit for the year 2020. However, its financial fortunes took a turn for the worse in 2021, with a net loss of 1.69 million kroner ($240,000).
During the pandemic, Noma received 10.9 million kroner in government support when the Danish authorities imposed lockdowns on the country to stem the spread of Covid-19. The previous year saw the Noma team diversify and turn their temple of New Nordic cuisine into a casual burger restaurant, POPL, a successful endeavour that later saw them open a permanent burger joint in the Danish capital.
Despite all the hard work in searching for new revenue streams, such as Noma Projects, which has seen the restaurant’s fermentation lab produce umami-rich garums for sale online, it seems the effects of the lockdown period were felt financially.
“In the circumstances, the company’s result and economic development have been satisfying,” said Noma's 2021 financial report. “The company expects an improved result for the year ahead.”
The last time Noma made a loss was in 2017, when Redzepi closed the restaurant to completely refurbish it. This month, the restaurant announced that it would close in Copenhagen after the current summer season and spend winter and fall on the road, before returning to its current location in 2023 and changing the restaurant "as we know it".
