Nando’s

About Nando’s

South African multi-national fast food chain specialising in flame-grilled peri peri-style chicken. Founded in by Fernando Duarte and Robert Brozin in 1987, Nando's operates more than 1,200 outlets in 30 countries. Capricorn Ventures International acquired the chain in 1992, and from July 2014, the group was owned by South African businessman Dick Enthoven and his family, through the Luxembourg-domiciled company Yellowwoods. Enthoven's son, Robby, was responsible for expanding the Nando's chain in the UK.

The first UK Nando’s opened in Ealing in 1992.

After Robby Enthoven took over the running of the UK arm, it’s focus switched from takeaway to mixed service, moving it from a struggling brand to a successful one. Rob Papps, group chief executive, said in November 2021 the chain suffered “the most challenging year in its history” as its full-year losses widened to more than £240m, but that it is “well-placed” to rebound.

Nando’s was among UK restaurant chains to close a number of sites during the summer of 2021 after production staff shortages impacted its supply of chicken. However, the firm said it remains confident in its future growth outlook and has seen “continued strong demand” for its peri-peri chicken.

In November 2023, Nando’s said it will continue to expand with new UK restaurants after the restaurant chain’s business, excluding South Africa, returned to profit for the first time since the pandemic in the year to 26 February 2023.

In November 2024, having cut its pre-tax loss during its latest financial year, Nando’s said the business is pushing forward with more investment to drive growth. In April 2026, Nando’s opened its landmark 500th UK&I restaurant, in Leatherhead. These include 427 restaurants in England, 35 in Scotland, 14 in Wales, 11 in Northern Ireland and 13 in the Republic of Ireland.

Following the landmark opening, Mark Standish, chief executive of Nando’s UK & Ireland, told Propel that the brand’s fiveyear plan targets 560-580 restaurants, with the potential to move “well into the 600s” over a five to tenyear horizon. Standish said his focus now is on smoothing out the brand’s “peaky” trading pattern. Unsurprisingly, dinner and weekends dominate, but the next 12 months will see a push into weekday lunch and Sunday lunch. “With chicken on the bone, gravy, greens, we think we can put our own twist on it,” he said.

Nando’s also sees an opportunity in a walkin, and drivethru remains a longerterm consideration, having been rolled out successfully in Australia and New Zealand. “Never say never,” Standish said. “Maybe as we get into the 600s, nudging into the edges of format might be something we need to consider.”

Why franchise with Nando’s

• ✓Nando’s is not offering franchises in the UK and Ireland and has no future plans to, but internationally, franchises are available in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. In these countries, Nando’s provides a full turnkey package to investors that comprises access to a comprehensive training programme, its proven systems of operation, business know how and supply chain.
• ✓Expert ongoing support is provided throughout the duration of the franchise agreement, and every franchisee must complete a three-month training programme at one of the company’s training restaurants. The only figures available are for the company’s South Africa franchise opportunity, which would cost in the region of 7,000,000 rand, which is approximately 340,000. This covers the design and set up of the restaurant, project management and fittings and equipment.
• ✓In the first instance, an application fee of 25,000 rand is required, while a franchise fee of 230,000 rand is charged by the franchisor, which must be paid upfront. The franchise fee gives franchisees the right to use the Nando’s brand name, systems and know-how, pays for the initial training and their staff. It also covers initial legal costs, any help provided in lease negotiations and assistance provided by the franchisor during the pre-opening and launch phase of the business.