Nando's
South African flame-grilled peri-peri chicken restaurant chain with a global fast-casual presence.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Nando's is a South African multinational fast-casual restaurant brand specializing in Portuguese- and Mozambican-inspired flame-grilled chicken seasoned with peri-peri, a chili-based sauce and marinade. The business began in 1987 when Portuguese-born Fernando Duarte and South African-born Robert Brozin acquired a Johannesburg takeaway previously called Chickenland. After trying its peri-peri chicken, the founders renamed the restaurant Nando's, a name derived from Fernando and associated with his first son. The brand's identity combines South African origins, Portuguese cultural references, distinctive restaurant design, and an irreverent advertising style. The early concept was simple: chicken grilled over an open flame, customized by spice intensity, and served with sides such as chips, rice, rolls, and salads. Peri-peri sauces and marinades became important parts of the proposition and were later sold through retail channels in some markets. The rooster used in the visual identity refers to the Rooster of Barcelos, a widely recognized Portuguese symbol, while restaurants commonly feature commissioned and locally selected artwork. Nando's has also emphasized that its restaurants should not all look identical; particularly in the United Kingdom, individual interiors were designed to reflect local architecture and art rather than a standardized global template. The chain expanded rapidly after Capricorn Ventures International acquired it in 1992. The United Kingdom became a central growth market after restaurants opened in west London in 1992. Robert Enthoven assumed operational responsibility for the restaurant business in 1993 and helped develop the UK format from a primarily takeaway proposition into a mixed counter-ordering and table-service model. The UK subsequently became Nando's largest market and a major source of the brand's international visibility. The company reached its 1,000th restaurant worldwide in 2012 and has since operated more than 1,200 outlets across roughly 30 countries, although outlet counts vary by date and source. Nando's has expanded through a combination of company operations, local partners, and franchise arrangements. Its footprint includes substantial businesses in South Africa, the UK, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, North America, Ireland, the Middle East, and selected African and Asian markets. The menu is adapted to local regulations, supply chains, dietary requirements, and consumer preferences. In the UK, the brand has offered halal-compliant food at a significant number of restaurants, while in New Zealand it has promoted chicken sourced from SPCA-certified free-range farms. Marketing is a major part of Nando's competitive identity. Campaigns have frequently used satire, political references, celebrity imitation, and topical cultural commentary. This approach has generated attention and awards but has also led to complaints, legal action, withdrawals, and criticism over taste or sensitivity. Notable examples include a 2002 Australian campaign referencing refugee hunger strikers, a 2009 South African advertisement parodying Julius Malema, and a 2011 commercial depicting Robert Mugabe with other former dictators. Nando's advertising generally aims to make the brand culturally noticeable rather than present a conventional product-only message. The company remains privately held. It was controlled for many years by South African businessman Dick Enthoven through the Yellowwoods group; after his death in 2022, ownership passed to his family. Nando's has faced the same operational pressures as other restaurant chains, including pandemic closures, labor and supply-chain disruption, chicken shortages, franchisee disputes, animal-welfare criticism, and scrutiny of the tax structures associated with its ownership group. Its core proposition nevertheless remains consistent: customizable flame-grilled chicken, peri-peri flavor, informal dining, and distinctive, often provocative brand communications.
History
Nando's began in 1987 in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, when Fernando Duarte and Robert Brozin bought a Portuguese-Mozambican takeaway called Chickenland. The founders were attracted to the restaurant's peri-peri chicken and developed the concept around flame grilling, spicy marinades, and informal service. They renamed the business Nando's, drawing on Fernando's name and family association. The rooster in the logo reflects the Portuguese Rooster of Barcelos, helping the brand communicate its Lusophone influence while retaining its South African base. By 1989, the business had three Johannesburg outlets and a restaurant in Portugal. Capricorn Ventures International acquired the chain in 1992, the same year that Nando's entered the United Kingdom with restaurants in west London. The British business initially emphasized takeaway service and faced difficulties before Dick Enthoven placed his son Robert Enthoven in charge of the restaurant operations in 1993. Under his leadership, the UK format shifted toward counter ordering combined with table service and a more developed dine-in experience. The UK growth strategy also shaped the visual language of the brand. Working with the Harrison branding and design agency, Nando's pursued individually designed restaurants rather than identical units. South African art, commissioned work, and distinctive interiors became part of the customer experience. This differentiated Nando's from more standardized fast-food chains and supported a broader positioning between fast food and casual dining. The UK became the company's largest market and an important platform for brand-building, menu development, and international recognition. Expansion continued across Australia, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, North America, Ireland, and New Zealand. Australia began operating in 1990, Botswana in 1993, Canada in 1994, Malaysia in 1998, New Zealand in 2000, Qatar and Pakistan in 2001, the United Arab Emirates in 2002, Ireland in 2008, and the United States in 2008. India entered the network in 2010 and Singapore also received its first restaurant that year. Local operating partners and franchisees have been important in several markets, producing a geographically broad but uneven footprint. Nando's grew its reputation through advertising as much as through restaurant expansion. Its campaigns often used topical humor and satire, including political references. The approach won attention and helped the company become a recognizable cultural brand, but some executions generated lawsuits, threats, boycotts, or withdrawals. The 2002 Australian refugee advertisement, the 2009 Julius Malema parody, and the 2011 Last Dictators campaign illustrate both the reach and risk of its communications strategy. The company reached 1,000 global restaurants in 2012. During the 2020 pandemic, Nando's UK closed all restaurants under lockdown rules before progressively restoring delivery, collection, and dine-in operations. In 2021, shortages of chicken and labor-related disruption forced temporary closures at a number of UK sites. Meanwhile, the brand continued to face questions about franchise relationships, supply standards, tax arrangements, and animal welfare. Ownership remained with the Enthoven family through Yellowwoods following Dick Enthoven's death in 2022. Nando's continues to operate as a private international restaurant group centered on peri-peri chicken and a highly recognizable South African-Portuguese brand identity.
- 2022
Ownership passes to the Enthoven family
[1]Following Dick Enthoven's death, the family continues to own the business.
- 2020
Pandemic operating interruption
[1]UK restaurants close under lockdown rules and later reopen progressively for off-premises and dine-in service.
- 2012
1,000th restaurant opens
[1]Nando's reaches a global milestone of 1,000 restaurants.
- 2010
Recognition as a leading marketing brand
[1]Advertising Age includes Nando's among its selection of notable global marketing brands.
- 2008
Entry into Ireland and the United States
[1]Nando's begins operations in Ireland and opens its first US restaurant in Washington, D.C.
- 1993
Robert Enthoven takes operational leadership
[1]The UK and wider restaurant business receives new leadership as the group pursues stronger expansion.
- 1992
Capricorn Ventures acquisition and UK entry
[1]Capricorn Ventures International acquires the chain, while the first UK restaurants open in west London.
- 1989
Early South African and Portuguese expansion
[1]The business reaches three Johannesburg outlets and one restaurant in Portugal.
- 1987
First Nando's restaurant opens in Johannesburg
[1]Fernando Duarte and Robert Brozin acquire Chickenland in Rosettenville and relaunch it as Nando's.
Products and positioning
Accessible premium fast-casual dining built around flame-grilled chicken, customizable peri-peri heat, Portuguese-Mozambican flavor cues, and culturally distinctive advertising.
Core menu · 1987
Flame-grilled peri-peri chicken
Nando's central offering is chicken grilled over an open flame and finished with peri-peri seasoning or sauce. Customers can typically choose portions such as quarters, halves, wings, or whole chickens and select different heat levels. The product anchors the brand's Portuguese-Mozambican flavor positioning and is usually accompanied by sides such as chips, rice, rolls, salads, or grilled vegetables.
Handheld meals
Chicken burgers and wraps
Boneless flame-grilled chicken is used in burgers, pitas, wraps, and related handheld meals. These products broaden the appeal of the core chicken proposition for customers seeking a portable or familiar fast-casual format, while retaining the brand's peri-peri sauces and spice customization.
Sauces and retail products · 1987
Peri-peri sauces and marinades
Peri-peri sauces and marinades provide the brand's principal flavor signature. They are used in restaurants at different heat levels and, in markets including the United Kingdom, have also been sold through supermarkets for home use.
Sides · 1987
Sides and accompaniments
The menu is supported by sides including chips, rice, salads, rolls, and other market-specific accompaniments. These items are designed to pair with grilled chicken and help the chain serve both individual meals and sharing occasions.
Controversies
2014
Offshore ownership and tax scrutiny
Reporting based on leaked wealth-management documents examined entities associated with the Enthoven family's ownership of Nando's and alleged that offshore structures could reduce the group's UK corporation-tax bill. A company representative said the arrangements were lawful and explained that the owner was not UK resident; Nando's later stated that its tax affairs should be managed responsibly and transparently.
New Zealand chicken-welfare criticism
Animals Aotearoa raised concerns about fast-growing chicken breeds used by Nando's New Zealand, alleging associated risks including lameness, chronic pain, respiratory problems, and difficulty accessing food and water. The organization also criticized the local operation for not adopting the Better Chicken Commitment adopted by Nando's UK and Ireland.
Franchisee and parent-company disputes in Australia
The Australian business has experienced public disputes between the parent company and franchisees. The available reference material identifies these conflicts but does not provide enough detail here to characterize individual cases or outcomes.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Last Dictators
South Africa
The commercial portrayed Robert Mugabe alone at Christmas recalling supposedly happier moments with other former dictators, including Muammar Gaddafi, Mao Zedong, Saddam Hussein, P. W. Botha, and Idi Amin.
Outcome. Nando's withdrew the advertisement after threats to staff in Zimbabwe and criticism from the local franchise group.
- 2009Julius Malema puppet advertisement
South Africa
Nando's used a puppet resembling African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema in an election-period advertisement. After legal action, the original version was removed and a modified version with a pixelated face and altered voice was released.
Outcome. The puppet was later auctioned, with proceeds donated to an educational charity.
- 2002Australian refugee advertisement
Australia
An advertisement connected Nando's free-chicken promotion with refugee detainees who had been hunger striking, including sewing their lips closed. The agency intended the execution to provoke discussion, but its subject matter made the campaign controversial.
Outcome. Generated public controversy and debate over the use of a sensitive political issue in food advertising.
Brand decisions
2021
Temporary closures caused by chicken shortagesOtherBackground
Food-sector supply-chain disruption, worker shortages, and COVID-related staff isolation affected the availability of chicken and restaurant labor in the UK.
Action taken
Nando's temporarily closed affected restaurants while supply and staffing conditions were addressed.
Aftermath
The episode highlighted the operational exposure of a restaurant chain dependent on fresh poultry and a large frontline workforce.
2020
Temporary UK restaurant closure during lockdownOtherBackground
Government restrictions introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic limited restaurant operations and customer dining.
Action taken
Nando's UK closed its restaurants, then progressively reopened selected sites for delivery and collection before restoring limited eat-in service.
Aftermath
The operating model temporarily prioritized off-premises service and phased reopening.
1993
Shift the UK format from takeaway toward mixed serviceStrategyBackground
The early UK business had focused strongly on takeaway service and had struggled to establish a distinctive restaurant proposition.
Action taken
Under Robert Enthoven's operational leadership, Nando's developed a format combining counter ordering with table service and a more substantial dine-in experience.
Aftermath
The change supported UK expansion and helped establish the market as the company's largest and most influential operating region.
Recent events
Nando’s unveils limited-edition Siya Sauce[2]
Reported:
Nando’s unveiled the limited-edition Siya Sauce, developed alongside Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, at the opening of its new restaurant in Stellenbosch. The sauce was planned to be available at Nando’s restaurants nationwide from 3 November, free of charge while stocks lasted.
- Unconfirmed
Nando's ends sponsorship of The Burning Platform[3]
Nando's announced that it was terminating its sponsorship of The Burning Platform with immediate effect after public outrage over host Gareth Cliff's remarks dismissing Mudzuli Rakhivhane's experiences of racism. Nando's said Cliff had failed to create an environment for free speech by talking over Rakhivhane and dismissing her view.
Nando’s terminates sponsorship of The Burning Platform[4]
Reported:
Nando’s terminated its sponsorship of The Burning Platform after an episode in which Gareth Cliff talked over and dismissed Mudzuli Rakhivhane’s views. Nando’s said it believed Cliff failed to create an environment where free speech was possible.
Nando’s temporarily closes UK restaurants amid supply shortages[5]
Reported:
Nando’s temporarily shut around 50 restaurants across England, Scotland and Wales after supply shortages of peri-peri chicken. The company said suppliers were struggling to meet demand and that it was doing what it could to restore supply.
Nando’s restaurants affected by chicken supply disruption[6]
Reported:
Nando’s said supply-chain disruption and staff shortages affected a number of its UK restaurants; nearly 50 restaurants were reported closed and delivery options cancelled. Nando’s said it would lend 70 team members to key suppliers to help restore deliveries.
Sources6 sources
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