MEET OUR CO-FOUNDERS

From little things, big things grow.

We’re proud to be a small business serving our local community and to drive change towards a healthier and more sustainable future. So, who are we and what drives us? Find out a little more about the Nourish and Feed Founders & Owners – Sarah Haylett-Petty, Dane Haylett-Petty & Hannah Meredith.

Tell us a little about yourselves and your roles in the business:

Sarah:
My name is Sarah Haylett-Petty and I’m a co-founder of Nourish and Feed. I founded the business with my brother Dane in 2015. Our Dad has always been in small business, so running my own business has always been an interest of mine. Dad turned many of his passions into business ideas and I always knew I would follow in his footsteps. After completing my Law/Commerce degree I went into Advertising which I loved, but after 3 years I felt burnt out and that’s where I began exploring the healthy food market, trying to look for healthy meal solutions to help me feel better. This is where Nourish and Feed came along. Currently, I wear many hats in the business, including managing, cooking, cleaning, marketing, administration, and the list goes on! In the long term, I hope to work more exclusively on the Nourish and Feed brand and the business strategy. We have a very clear idea of where the business needs to go and are taking our time to perfect the business structure now before expanding.

Dane:
My name is Dane Haylett-Petty, I am a co-founder of Nourish and Feed with my sister Sarah and I currently play Rugby for the Melbourne Rebels and the Wallabies. I studied Commerce/Finance at university and am involved in the finances of the business as well as providing investment. I’m currently based in Melbourne for Rugby, which means that I’m not physically in the store to assist with the day-to-day business procedures, however I am actively involved in the big picture strategy of the business. I'm also passionate about sustainability, which I’ve driven from the start and will continue to develop this side of the business.

Hannah:
My name is Hannah Meredith, I’m Dane’s partner and co-owner of Nourish and Feed. I studied Hospitality and Tourism Management at University in Edinburgh, Scotland and have always worked in high-end hotel Food and Beverage and Events operations before relocating to Australia in 2014. I started 'unofficially' helping Dane and Sarah when the business was still quite new, and eventually spent a large part of the last year working on the admin / development side of the business with Sarah. One of my roles has been focused on the staff and people within the business, growing our team and moulding the culture from within. My biggest opportunity in being part of the driving force behind this brand is the fast learning of starting a business from scratch. 

How did the concept for Nourish and Feed arise? What was your vision and what were you driven by?

Sarah:
It all started in 2015 when we were searching for healthy & convenient food options, which at the time were very limited. We brainstormed many ideas around the concept of 'healthy convenience' but the healthy drive-thru idea just seemed to stick.  Our vision was to supply busy people with healthy meal options to fuel them through their days. There are now many elements to the business idea, but the exciting part for me has always been helping people to do more, achieve more out of their day and reach their goals faster.

Dane:
We were driven by the idea of by healthy convenience. Our aim was to make it as easy as possible for busy people, like ourselves, to lead healthy lifestyles. We wanted to be everything that the fast food industry was not, with the vision to provide healthy food, as fast as possible, and do it in a sustainable and ethical way. 

Hannah:
I began my part of the Nourish and Feed journey a little later than Dane and Sarah, who founded the business. I started by working in the operations side of the business and grasping the concept for a year before officially joining Dane and Sarah as an owner. The concept and brand are something that I am proud to be a part of, mainly driven by its sustainable ethics, educational values and global vision, which is so exciting. I love the simple idea of affording people the opportunity to have healthy food in a convenient, accessible and fast way.

The food industry is evolving rapidly, what do you see as the top trends that are driving change toward a healthier and more sustainable future and how do you utilise these trends in your own business?

Hannah:
As opposed to a trend, I believe that with time, the more educated, health conscious and aware people become of eating the right foods to live or contribute towards a healthy lifestyle, will naturally shift their food choices. The global awareness of sustainable consumption is a huge platform for us and very much in line with what our brand believes in. Surprisingly, as people become more aware of sustainability; the desire to give back or protect the planet becomes more of a priority over price point which is remarkable to see.

Dane:
Firstly, we've seen a huge shift in the food industry, even in the 4 years since we started. We have an on-demand economy - people have access to food at the touch of a button. They want convenience and are willing to pay for it. Uber Eats has led the way, and we believe we can add value.

The rise of the conscious shopper is also huge. Consumers are questioning where their food is coming from and consciously thinking about the impact of their food decisions. In the decision-making process, people are considering their health more than ever, quality is coming before cost, as is ethical considerations of other humans, animals and the environment.

We also believe that businesses have a responsibility and role to play. We are conscious of our ecological footprint. We believe in locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and support the zero-waste movement by the way of bio packaging, recycling and composting.

Lastly, I believe technology, artificial intelligence and robots will become much more common in the food industry. We are always looking for ways to become more efficient, and increase the speed in our drive-thru.

Sarah:
Our customers and the wider community have become more educated about the affects of the food industry on the environment. In a way, this gives us more control, as we now know the repercussions of our choices and that we need to change them. At Nourish and Feed, we aim to assist in educating our customers, but we also provide them with easy convenient options to make these choices. For example, for our regular customers who use a coffee card, when they reach their 10th coffee, they can choose to plant a tree rather than claiming a free coffee. We also encourage our customers to bring back their Pressed Earth juice bottles for re-use, to use their Keep Cups for coffee orders and we ensure that there a plenty of vegetarian and vegan options on the menu. I believe that small changes make a big difference.

Aside from being Perth’s first healthy-drive thru, what else makes Nourish and Feed stand-out?

Hannah:
I truly believe that it’s the people who work within the company that are key; the staff and team are what drive this business forward and we are so lucky to have such a passionate group of people working closely together towards the same goal. In our small team, we hire specifically and each staff member’s contribution is an important part of the bigger picture. We also pride ourselves on the desire to give back – our sustainable model affects the way we run the business from all angles; whether this be through sourcing sustainable packaging, working with local suppliers and supporting small businesses.

Dane:
We have a great team of people that make up the Nourish and Feed family and we have a clear ethos – using local, good quality, seasonal ingredients that are ethically and sustainably sourced to create real food that nourishes the body and feeds the mind.

Sarah:
The community feel. We have such a lovely community in Duncraig, we see the same faces coming through every day, and I know that staff have real connections with the customers, their dogs, their kids and their whole life stories! I think that makes such a difference. Whilst we work hard, and fast in the drive thru, it is such a positive environment, I know the staff feel it and I hope the customers feel it too. 

You have recently released a new menu with the concept for customers to build a bowl. Can you tell us how you each make your perfect Nourish and Feed salad bowl?

Hannah:
I am obsessed with the Vietnamese Noodle Bowl. I love the freshness; and the quality of this bowl is something I crave and could have daily. I always love adding avo and feta to my bowl too!

Sarah:
I love the Daily Greens with a warm falafel and feta. Not only is the daily greens so pretty, but the flavours all come together so nicely! 

Dane:
The Pumpkin + Halloumi bowl is perfect for a post training meal. I like to add chicken and avo to ensure I have a good mixture of healthy fats, plenty of greens, carbohydrates and protein to keep my energy levels sustained throughout the day.

What does the future look like for Nourish and Feed?

Sarah:
It is so exciting and has so much potential! Running a small business can be challenging, so sometimes I just enjoy standing at the window and talking to our customers. It gives me some perspective around the good we really are doing for them. To me that is everything, because if we are doing that for a few people in Duncraig, I know we need to do it for more people in more places. To me, we have proven the business model works and that makes the future very bright for Nourish and Feed. 

Hannah:
This is probably the scariest part, yet the most exciting part. There is no limit on our vision and we are working closely to develop and grow. A flourishing global business is our dream, which one day we hope to see as a reality. 

Dane:
We want to be global. A healthy drive-thru on every main street, providing people with healthy food on their way to work, or on their way home. The food industry and the food choices that people make have caused a lot of damage in the past, to people’s health, the environment, and so on. We want to be part of the solution – to make it easier for people to make healthy & ethical food choices.