Fish Boss entities go into voluntary liquidation

Entities related to seafood vendor The Fish Boss have become the latest casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic, with three going into voluntary liquidation after experiencing financial difficulties.

The company, co-founded by former MasterChef contestant and Catalano Seafood co-owner Josh Catalano and chef Stuart Fergusson in 2016, operated a food truck business before opening fixed sites in the Perth metropolitan area, including Perth’s Yagan Square. 

It is understood Mr Catalano took full control of the business in 2019.

In December, the company appointed WA Insolvency Solutions to lead the liquidation of two of its entities - Boss Promotions Pty Ltd (formerly trading as "Fish Boss") and Boss Promtions 1 Pty Ltd.

A third company, Boss Promotions 3 Pty Ltd, was added to the list just this week.

WA Insolvency Solutions partner and appointed liquidator Jimmy Trpcevski said the company’s director took proactive steps to seek advice, obtain options and consider winding up the entities to deal with financial difficulties.

He said the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions had taken their toll on the business, as had a lack of foot traffic in Perth’s Yagan Square.

But some entities are still operational, including the store in Victoria Park - which was taken over by Jamie Goddard in July 2020.

Mr Goddard told Business News the store had successfully navigated the challenges presented by the pandemic, so much so that there are now plans to open an additional venue in Inglewood.

As the liquidation process was still in the preliminary stages, Mr Trpcevski said he was yet to quantify with creditors the total amount outstanding on each entity.

Mr Trpcevski said he believed a number of small business owners in the hospitality industry may find themselves exploring similar avenues as a result of the difficulties posed by the pandemic.