Nando’s is a global restaurant chain that originated in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1987. It is famous for its peri-peri chicken, which is marinated in a spicy sauce made from African bird’s eye chilies and other ingredients. Here are 17 fascinating facts about Nando’s:
The name “Nando’s” comes from co-founder Fernando Duarte’s first name.
1 “Nando” is a shortened version of the name Fernando, which is the first name of one of the co-founders of Nando’s, Fernando Duarte.
The peri-peri sauce used at Nando’s is made with a unique blend of chilies, including the African bird’s eye chili.
2 Which is known for its fiery heat. The sauce also includes other ingredients such as garlic, lemon, and vinegar, which gives it a tangy and flavourful taste.
The first Nando’s restaurant opened in the Johannesburg suburb of Rosettenville, South Africa, in 1987
3 It was a small take-out restaurant at the time, and it quickly gained popularity due to the unique peri-peri flavor of its chicken.
Since then, Nando’s has expanded into a global restaurant chain with over 1,200 locations in more than 35 countries.
There are now over 1,200 Nando’s restaurants in more than 35 countries worldwide.
4 The chain has expanded rapidly since its founding in 1987, and it is now a popular destination for peri-peri chicken lovers around the world.
Nando’s has a significant presence in the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, and several other countries.
Nando’s is known for its flame-grilled peri-peri chicken, which is cooked to order.
5 The chicken is marinated for 24 hours in a peri-peri sauce made from African bird’s eye chilies and other ingredients before being grilled over an open flame.
The result is a juicy, flavourful chicken that is spicy and tangy, with a crispy exterior. Nando’s also offers a range of heat levels for its peri-peri sauce, so customers can choose the level of spiciness that suits their taste.
The chicken is marinated for 24 hours in the peri-peri sauce before it is cooked.
6 The marinade infuses the chicken with flavour and tenderizes the meat, resulting in juicy and succulent chicken that is bursting with spicy, tangy flavour.
The longer the chicken is marinated, the more intense the flavour becomes. This is one of the reasons why Nando’s chicken is so popular and loved by many peri-peri chicken fans around the world.
Nando’s offers a range of heat levels for its peri-peri sauce, ranging from mild to extra hot.
7 The mild sauce has a subtle heat and is perfect for those who prefer a milder flavor.
The medium sauce has a bit more heat and a more robust flavour, while the hot sauce is spicy and flavourful, but still manageable for most people.
The extra hot sauce is extremely spicy and is only recommended for those who can handle a lot of heat. Nando’s also offers a variety of other sauces and marinades, such as lemon and herb, garlic, and mango and lime, which cater to different tastes.
In addition to its famous peri-peri chicken, Nando’s also serves a variety of sides to complement the meal.
8 Some popular sides include garlic bread, coleslaw, corn on the cob, spicy rice, fries, and mashed potatoes.
Nando’s also offers a selection of salads, such as Caesar salad and Mediterranean salad, as well as starters like hummus and pita bread.
For dessert, customers can enjoy Nando’s signature dish, the “Nata,” which is a Portuguese custard tart that is crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.
Nando’s has won several awards for its food over the years.
9 In 2018, Nando’s won the “Best Chicken Restaurant” award at the British Restaurant Awards.
The chain has also won awards for its innovative marketing campaigns and its commitment to sustainability.
Nando’s has a strong reputation for quality food and excellent customer service, which has helped it become a favourite restaurant for many people around the world.
Nando’s is well-known for its humorous advertising campaigns, which are often cheeky and irreverent.
10 The chain is famous for its witty slogans and tongue-in-cheek humor, which have helped to build its brand identity and connect with customers.
Nando’s advertising campaigns have won numerous awards over the years, and they often make headlines in the media due to their humour and creativity.
The chain’s marketing strategy is designed to be playful and engaging, and it aims to create a fun and enjoyable dining experience for customers.
Nando’s is a popular destination for celebrities, and over the years, many high-profile stars have been spotted dining at the chain’s restaurants.
11 Some of the famous fans of Nando’s include Ed Sheeran, David Beckham, and Rihanna, as well as other celebrities from the worlds of music, film, and sport.
Nando’s has become a popular place for celebrities to dine due to its casual atmosphere, delicious food, and laid-back vibe.
Many Nando’s restaurants have become iconic cultural landmarks in their own right, and they are often visited by tourists and locals alike.
Nando’s has a loyalty program called Nando’s Card, which offers rewards and discounts to frequent diners.
12 The program is free to join and offers a range of benefits, including discounts, special offers, and freebies.
Customers can earn points for every pound they spend at Nando’s, and these points can be redeemed for rewards such as free food and drinks, exclusive merchandise, and access to special events.
The Nando’s Card also provides members with early access to new products and promotions, as well as personalized offers based on their dining habits. It’s a great way for customers to save money while enjoying their favourite peri-peri chicken dishes.
Nando’s has its own line of merchandise, including t-shirts, hats, and keychains.
13 The merchandise is typically branded with the Nando’s logo or other designs related to the chain, and it is popular among fans of the restaurant.
Some of the merchandise is also designed to promote specific menu items, such as the famous peri-peri chicken, and it is sold at Nando’s restaurants around the world.
The merchandise line is part of Nando’s wider marketing strategy, which aims to create a strong brand identity and foster customer loyalty.
The company has a strong commitment to sustainability and sources its chicken from farms that meet strict welfare standards.
14 The chain works closely with its suppliers to ensure that the chickens are raised in a humane and ethical manner, and it is committed to reducing its environmental impact through initiatives such as reducing waste, using sustainable materials, and promoting recycling.
In addition, Nando’s supports a range of community projects around the world, including initiatives to combat hunger and promote education.
The chain’s commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing has helped to build its reputation as a responsible and socially conscious company.
Nando’s is a socially conscious company that is committed to supporting charitable causes around the world.
15 The chain has established several initiatives to support hunger relief and education, as well as other community projects.
For example, Nando’s supports the Nando’s Fighting Malaria program, which provides mosquito nets to communities in Africa to help prevent the spread of malaria.
The chain also works with organizations such as the Nelson Mandela Foundation to support education initiatives and promote social justice.
In addition, Nando’s has a long history of supporting local communities, and it often partners with local charities and organizations to support grassroots projects.
Overall, Nando’s is committed to making a positive impact on the world and using its business to promote social and environmental sustainability.
In 2020, Nando’s launched a plant-based version of its famous peri-peri chicken, called the Great Imitator.
16 The Great Imitator is made with a blend of pea protein and natural flavors, and it is designed to mimic the taste and texture of Nando’s flame-grilled chicken.
The plant-based option has been well-received by customers and has helped to expand the chain’s menu offerings to cater to a wider range of dietary preferences.
The launch of the Great Imitator is part of Nando’s wider strategy to promote sustainability and reduce its environmental impact, as plant-based options typically have a lower carbon footprint than meat-based dishes.
They are known for their variety of sauces that can be paired with their chicken.
17 The exact number of sauces that Nando’s has may vary by location and region, but they typically offer a range of mild to hot sauces, as well as extra-hot and garlic flavours. Some of the most popular Nando’s sauces include:
- Peri-Peri Sauce (mild, medium, hot, or extra hot)
- Garlic Peri-Peri Sauce
- Lemon and Herb Sauce
- Mango and Lime Sauce
- Coconut and Lime Sauce
- Medium Perinaise
- Hot Perinaise
- Garlic Perinaise
Overall, Nando’s offers a diverse range of sauces that cater to different tastes and spice levels.
