Nando's is a casual dining restaurant group originating from the Mozambiquan Portuguese community in South Africa with a Portuguese/Mozambican theme.^[1] Founded in 1987, Nando's operates in thirty countries on five continents.^[2] Nando's specializes in chicken dishes with either lemon and herb, medium, hot, extra hot or extra extra hot Peri-Peri marinades (properly known as Galinha à Africana). In some countries, Nando's has other flavour options like mango and lime or Mediterranean.

History[link]

The Portuguese settlers to Mozambique were introduced to pili pili chili by the African Mozambicans who had incorporated it in their cuisine.^{[1][better source needed]} The term 'pili pili' is Swahili for 'pepper pepper'.^[1] The settlers began to use piri piri in their own daily cooking.^[1] The restaurant has its origins in a mining town in South Africa, where many Mozambicans of Portuguese origins relocated to Johannesburg in search of gold and carried piri piri recipes to South Africa.^[1] Industries catering to the mining communities began to grow in Rosettenville, including "Chickenland". The restaurant began in 1987 when Portuguese-Mozambicans Robert Brozin and Fernando Duarte bought a restaurant called Chickenland in Rosettenville, southern Johannesburg in South Africa.^[3] They renamed the restaurant Nando's, after Duarte.^[4] The restaurant incorporated influences from former Portuguese colonists from Mozambique, many of whom had settled on the south-eastern side of Johannesburg, after their homeland's independence in 1975. The logo is derived from the Rooster of Barcelos. The initial design and corporate identity was developed by Mark Bischoff and Bruce Gemmel.

Food[link]

An example of food served in Nando's

Nando's specialises in flame-grilled Peri-Peri chicken. The chicken is served in quarters, halves, wholes, and butterfly breasts (UK and Ireland only). Nando's also serves burgers, pitas, salads, wings and wraps. In some countries, Nando’s sells chicken livers, Espetada (a large stand with a skewer of chicken breast and grilled peppers) and Cataplana (a chicken and rice dish served in a traditional Portuguese copper dish).^[5]

Peri-peri[link]

Peri-peri (piri piri, pili pili), also known as African Bird's Eye chilli, is a variety of Capsicum frutescens widely grown in East and Southern Africa. Nando's products are basted in one of four Peri-Peri flavours. Nando's has published a book about Peri-Peri called Pain and Pleasure – Peri-Peri the contrasts and contradictions of the African Bird's Eye Chilli.^[6]

Nando's sauces[link]

Nando's manufactures a range of sauces which are sold in Nando's restaurants and in supermarkets. They include Peri-Peri sauces, marinades, cooking sauces and a Peri-Peri Essence.^[7]

Marketing[link]

In 2010, Advertising Age magazine named Nando's as one of the world's top 30 hottest marketing brands.^[8]

Global locations[link]

Nando's locations worldwide

Nando's will allow anyone to eat free for life if they can prove they have been to all the Nando's restaurants.^[2] Nando's has locations in Australia, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Botswana, Canada, Cyprus, Fiji, India, Ireland, Kenya,^[9] Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, Swaziland, Turkey, UAE, UK, USA, Zambia and Zimbabwe.^[2]

Africa[link]

Nando's take-away in Canal Walk Shopping Mall, Cape Town, South Africa

South African Origins[link]

As already depicted, the first restaurant began in 1987 when Robert Brozin and Fernando Duarte bought a restaurant called Chickenland in Rosettenville, southern Johannesburg.^[3]

Botswana[link]

Nandos has been operating in Botswana since 1993.^[10]

Malawi[link]

Nando's has been operating in Malawi since 1998 in Blantyre and later in Lilongwe.^[10][11] It became one of the leading restaurant brands in Malawi.^[10]

Mauritius[link]

There are currently^[when?] three Nando's restaurants in Mauritius, one at the Trianon Shopping Centre, the other in the centre of Port Louis, and a third one recently^[when?] opened at Bagatelle - The Mall of Mauritius. A further six restaurants are to open within the next 4 years^[when?].^[12]

Namibia[link]

Nando's launched in Namibia in 1995.^{[citation needed]}

Nigeria[link]

Nando's launched in Lagos, Nigeria in 2005.^[10]

Swaziland[link]

Nando's operates in Swaziland.^[10]

Zambia[link]

Nando's began operating in Zambia in 2010.^[10]

Zimbabwe[link]

In Zimbabwe, there have been^{[clarification needed]} restaurants in Harare, Bulawayo,Mutare, Old Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls - amongst others. The first of which opened in 1993.^[2]

Oceania[link]

Australia[link]

Nando's has been in the Australian marketplace since 1990, when the first restaurant opened in Tuart Hill in Western Australia. There are currently^[when?] over 270 restaurants in Australia with further growth planned of around three additional sites per month..^[13]

Fiji[link]

There are three Nando's in Fiji.^{[citation needed]}

New Zealand[link]

There are Four Nando's in New Zealand (Auckland, Christchurch, Rotorua, Wellington) -Soon to be opening in Dunedin- ^[14]

Asia[link]

Nando's in Penang, Malaysia

Nando's in Singapore

Bangladesh[link]

Nando's has been running in Bangladesh since 2007.^{[citation needed]} The first restaurant was opened in Dhanmondi area.^{[citation needed]} It is running there as a franchised business. All of the outlets in Bangladesh sell halal foods.^{[citation needed]} Currently^[when?] it is operated in the prominent locations of Dhaka and Chittagong.^{[citation needed]}

India[link]

Nando's opened restaurants in India in late 2010.^{[citation needed]} Nando's currently^[when?] has full fledged operational restaurants in the southern city of Bangalore, in Chandigarh and 2 restaurants in Mumbai (Malad and Mumbai Central).^{[citation needed]} The Nando's in Bangalore opened on Friday, 3 December^{[year missing]} and the official press conference and press release/announcement was on Tuesday, 7 December^{[year missing]}.^{[citation needed]} Nando's plans to open many more restaurants in India.^[15] But currently^[when?] India has only two restaurants.^{[citation needed]}

Malaysia[link]

In Malaysia, Nando's has been established since 1998 and currently^[when?], there are 38 restaurants in Malaysia.^{[citation needed]} The latest restaurant opened at Aeons Station 18 Shopping Mall, Ipoh, Perak in April 2012.^{[citation needed]}