The establishment of Boden Industrial Park is creating new opportunities for local businesses. For M/S Bränna, it has meant more jobs, new business and a growing restaurant business.

When the demand for service began to take shape at Boden Industrial Park, there were no obvious solutions in place. For David Larsson, owner of M/S Bränna, it was the start of a venture that began on a small scale – but which would grow over time.

– They got in touch and were interested in a food solution. There were no clear structures, so we decided to give it a try,” he says.

Together with local actors, a food truck solution was built in 2023. Two modules were assembled with the help of Bodensläp, and the business was up and running.

But the start was not as many predicted.

– There was talk that there would be a lot of people right away, but that was not the case. Several operators tried, but pulled out. We chose to stay and work our way through it.

In the first year, demand was limited, as the area was mainly characterized by earthworks. But as construction picked up, the need for services increased – and business grew.

Next step: restaurant business

After a long dialog with Stegra, the next step was taken and a new restaurant solution will be in place in early 2026.

To enable the venture, Stegra has built up the infrastructure – with restaurant space, preparation kitchens, washrooms, toilets and conference facilities.

The restaurant, which is one of two local restaurants in the area, is run by the company Centralen i norr AB, where David Larsson is a partner together with Jonas Lundström and Tobias Olsson. At the same time, there is a clear connection to M/S Bränna, where the food is largely prepared before it is delivered to the business.

Today, lunch is served with a focus on home cooking, often buffet style, adapted to the growing workforce.

– We cater the food out there. We don’t have a staffed kitchen there, we divide it up,” he says.

It currently serves around 150-200 lunches – with the capacity to eventually reach up to 400 guests per day.

– In retrospect, it feels great that we dared to continue when others closed down. I think there are good opportunities to develop the business further and I am positive about the future,” he says.

The development has also had a clear impact on employment. From a few positions in the food trucks, the business has grown to around five or six jobs linked to the initiative.

– This has meant that we have been able to bring in more staff and offer staff more hours.

The set-up, with production taking place in the existing kitchen and serving on site, has allowed it to grow in line with demand.

Impacts felt throughout Boden

At the same time, David Larsson sees that the establishment affects the entire local business community.

– We notice that more people are moving around in Boden and that more people are out to eat,” he says.

One of the biggest challenges is the shortage of hotel rooms, which affects the ability to keep business and visitors in the city.

– Many business dinners and conferences end up in other places. We have no rooms in Boden, all hotels are full.

The city center next step

As chairman of the Restaurant Owners Network, he also highlights the need to develop the city center in line with growth.

– There is too little happening in the center. We need more people and more activities, otherwise there won’t be enough for the evening activities.

The journey from food truck to restaurant shows how local businesses can grow in step with industry – but also that development places demands on the city as a whole.

– I think we have a great future in Boden, but we have to be on board,” he says.