Who Owns Nando's?

Nando's publishes sustainability information through its UK website and has made several commitments, though independently verified certifications are limited.

On chicken sourcing, Nando's UK reports that 100% of its chicken is sourced from farms that meet Red Tractor standards, a UK farm assurance scheme. The company states that all its chicken is barn-reared, not caged. Nando's has not adopted a fully free-range policy across all markets, which has drawn some criticism from animal welfare advocates.

The peri-peri chili supply chain is a point of pride for the company. Nando's sources chilies from small-scale farmers in Mozambique, Malawi, and South Africa through its PERi-Farm program. The company states that it works directly with over 1,400 farmers and pays above-market prices. These claims are reported by the company but have not been independently audited by a third-party certification body.

Nando's UK runs a food donation program called "No Chuckin' Our Chicken" (NCOC), launched in 2013. The program donates surplus food to charities. By 2024, the company reported donating over 4.5 million meals to more than 500 charities across the UK and Ireland.

On packaging, Nando's UK has committed to eliminating single-use plastics where possible. The company has switched to paper straws and recyclable packaging for most takeaway items. However, Nando's has not published specific, independently verified targets for packaging reduction or recycled content percentages.

Nando's does not hold B Corp certification. The company is not listed in the B Lab directory. No Leaping Bunny or PETA cruelty-free certifications apply, as Nando's is a restaurant chain, not a personal care brand.

The Enthoven family's complex offshore ownership structure has been the subject of some media scrutiny. Reports by the Guardian and other outlets have examined the family's use of trusts in Luxembourg and Malta. The structures are legal but have raised questions about tax transparency. Nando's has not publicly responded in detail to these reports.

Nando's has not been subject to any major food safety recalls. The brand operates a relatively clean record on food safety across its markets.

In 2018, Nando's UK faced a minor controversy when an investigation by the BBC found that some Nando's suppliers used chickens treated with antibiotics. Nando's responded by stating that it was working with suppliers to reduce antibiotic use and that all its chicken met UK food safety standards. The company has since stated that it prohibits the routine use of antibiotics in its chicken supply chain.

Nando's advertising in South Africa has been controversial by design. The brand's ads have addressed xenophobia, political corruption, and racial tensions. A 2019 ad depicting a South African politician as a chicken was pulled after legal threats. These advertising choices are intentional marketing strategies, not accidents, and have generally been well-received by South African consumers while occasionally drawing complaints to advertising regulators.

The offshore ownership structure of the Enthoven family has attracted media attention. In 2017, the Paradise Papers leak revealed details of the family's use of offshore entities in Malta and Luxembourg. The Guardian reported that the structure allowed the family to minimize tax liabilities. Nando's stated that its tax affairs are conducted in accordance with all applicable laws. No regulatory action was taken.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nando's UK used the UK government's furlough scheme to pay staff wages. The company later repaid the furlough money it had received. Some commentators criticized profitable companies for using public funds, though the scheme was designed for exactly this purpose.

No major labor disputes, environmental violations, or regulatory enforcement actions have been documented against Nando's in recent years.