Mihaela i Stefano Petro
Episode · #528
VRIJEME JE ZA GOSPODARSTVO Mihaela i Stefano Petrović
Guest Mihaela i Stefano PetroHosted by Darko BukovićMay 3, 2026
Mihaela i Stefano Petro
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation
When the world shut down in 2020, Mihaela and Stefano Petrović did the opposite: they opened their first restaurant, Fish Delish. Not in a bustling city center, but on the quiet Croatian island of Murter. In less than three years, that same concept expanded across the Atlantic, landing in America. This unlikely trajectory, from a small island to New York, wasn't accidental. The Petrovićs, with their family background in fish wholesale, saw a different kind of opportunity in crisis. Their story offers a clear look at how a focused vision, built on deep industry knowledge, can scale rapidly even in the most challenging environments.
Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Opening Fish Delish in Murter during the 2020 pandemic lockdown, not a major city, was a deliberate test. If a new concept can survive and thrive in its toughest possible environment, it has a stronger chance of scaling anywhere.
02
The Fish Delish concept wasn't a sudden market idea; it grew from Mihaela's lifelong love for cooking combined with the family's deep expertise in fish wholesale. The most robust ventures often emerge from a personal connection to the product, integrated with existing supply chain knowledge, rather than just identifying a market gap.
03
From the moment they conceived Fish Delish, the Petrovićs designed it with franchising in mind, not just a single restaurant. Building a business model that can be replicated from day one means every early decision informs its future expansion, rather than being an afterthought.
04
Previous attempts at quick-serve fish like 'srdela snack' failed because they weren't 'interesting or modern enough,' as Mihaela and Stefano put it. To succeed with a traditional product in a new format, a modern aesthetic and compelling presentation are as critical as the core quality of the food itself.
05
The first Fish Delish franchises were opened by friends in Vodice and Makarska, people who had followed the concept from its inception. The strongest early validation for a new franchise model comes from people who already trust the founders and the product enough to invest their own capital.
06
For small entrepreneurs, the Petrovićs underscore that franchising offers a 'verified' and 'proven' model, complete with standardized recipes that eliminate the need for a chef. The true value of a franchise isn't just the brand name, but a pre-tested system that removes the need for a new owner to develop a menu or test market demand.
07
While some might label Fish Delish as 'fast food,' the founders prefer 'fish street food' or 'fast casual' in America, highlighting quality ingredients like tuna tataki. How you name and position your category is a deliberate act of market differentiation, not just semantics.