Fishbowl co-founder Nathan Dalah opening new Sunshine Coast and Noosa stores

A uni dropout who used to clean boats is taking over the country with his mates and their healthy fast-food chain which is now heading for Noosa and the Sunshine Coast.

Fishbowl co founders Casper Ettelson, left, Nic Pestalozzi, middle, and Nathan Dalah, right. Photo: supplied.

A university dropout who used $100,000 earnt from cleaning boats to start a healthy takeaway empire is about to open his first stores in the Sunshine Coast and Noosa.

Sydney’s Nathan Dalah, 30, and his mates Nic Pestalozzi and Casper Ettelson are the brains behind now-famous healthy fast-food chain Fishbowl which has 34 stores nationwide.

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With stores across Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales, the takeaway food store offers freshly made salad bowls with a Japanese twist.

Fishbowl is coming to the Sunshine Coast with a store to soon open at Sunshine Plaza, Maroochydore, followed by another along Hastings St, Noosa Heads, late this year or early next year.

Fishbowl co founders Nic Pestalozzi, left, and Casper Ettelson, middle, and Nathan Dalah, right. Photo: supplied.

Mr Dalah said he was 23 and studying law and commerce at University of Technology Sydney when he came up with the idea, which gave him an “excuse to not be at uni anymore”.

“I dropped out to pursue it full time,” he said.

He said he invested $100,000 to fit-out the first venue at Bondi Beach using money he saved from another one of his ventures where he cleaned boats along the Sydney Harbour.

Inside one of Fishbowl’s venues. Photo: supplied.

He credited the brand’s success to being the first fast-food chain to resonate with the a new generation of eaters, saying it is healthy, sustainable, transparent and importantly, quick.

“We wanted to be the first fast-food brand that was actually relatable,” he said.

He said these qualities should connect with and be welcomed at the Sunshine Coast.

One of Fishbowl's salad bowls. Photo: supplied.

Mr Dalah said the upcoming, 150sq m and 60-seat venue would be brought to life with a good vibe and a minimal, timeless and playful aesthetic.

He said he would even feature himself in the kitchen sometimes.

“We love to host,” he said.

The young businessman said this won’t be the only new store, saying he had 16 stores to come this year, adding to their staple which sprawls more than 20 sites in NSW, as well outlets in Victoria and the Gold Coast.

By 2018 Fairfax reported their annual revenue was expected to top $15m and the growth has continued since.

The venues went cashless several years ago, in a bid to improve efficiency of service.

Their expansion into the Sunshine Coast comes as US fast food giant Wendy’s revealed is ambition to bring hundreds of restaurants to Australia.

The chain currently boasts about 7000 restaurants across the globe.