Nando's Group Holdings Limited

Who owns Nando's?
Nando's is owned by the Enthoven family through Yellowwoods Group, their private holding company. The family acquired a controlling stake in the early 1990s, with Dick Enthoven leading the investment. Dick Enthoven died in 2022, and the family retains ownership through a network of holding companies and trusts registered in multiple jurisdictions. Nando's is not publicly traded on any stock exchange.

Is Nando's publicly traded?
No, Nando's is not publicly traded. The company is privately owned by the Enthoven family through Yellowwoods Group. As a private company, Nando's does not publish consolidated global financial statements. Its UK entity (Nando's Limited) files accounts with Companies House, which provide some financial visibility for the UK market.

When was Nando's founded?
Nando's was founded in 1987 in Johannesburg, South Africa, by Fernando Duarte and Robert Brozin. The two friends visited a Portuguese chicken restaurant called Chickenland in the Johannesburg suburb of Rosettenville and were so impressed by the peri-peri chicken that they decided to buy the restaurant. They renamed it Nando's, after Duarte's son Nando.

How many Nando's restaurants are there?
Nando's operates over 1,300 restaurants across approximately 30 countries as of 2025. The United Kingdom is the largest market by restaurant count, with over 480 restaurants. Other major markets include South Africa, Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates.

What is Nando's revenue?
Nando's does not publicly disclose its global revenue as a private company. However, its UK operations reported revenue of approximately GBP 1.2 billion in 2024, making Nando's one of the largest restaurant chains in the UK by revenue. Global revenue is not publicly available but is estimated to be significantly higher when including all international markets and the grocery business.

Who is Nando's CEO?
Rob Papps serves as Group CEO of Nando's, overseeing global operations from London. Kimberly Grant took over as CEO of Nando's North America in April 2025. The company's leadership team includes regional CEOs responsible for specific markets, with the UK being the largest and most significant market.

Does Nando's franchise?
Nando's operates company-owned restaurants in most markets and does not franchise in most countries. This company-owned model maintains tight quality control and brand consistency but limits expansion speed compared to franchise-based competitors. In some markets, the company uses joint ventures or master franchise agreements, but the majority of restaurants are company-owned.

Nando's was founded in 1987 by Fernando Duarte and Robert Brozin in Johannesburg, South Africa. The two friends visited a Portuguese chicken restaurant called Chickenland in the Johannesburg suburb of Rosettenville and were so impressed by the peri-peri chicken that they decided to buy the restaurant. They renamed it Nando's, after Duarte's son Nando, and began building the brand around the flame-grilled peri-peri chicken concept.

The early years were focused on the South African market, where Nando's expanded from a single restaurant to a small chain. The company developed its signature peri-peri sauces, which became a key differentiator and eventually a significant revenue stream through grocery sales. The brand's marketing, known for its humor and social commentary, also became a defining characteristic, particularly in South Africa where Nando's advertisements often addressed political and social issues.

In the early 1990s, the Enthoven family, led by Richard "Dick" Enthoven, invested in Nando's through Yellowwoods Group, their private holding company. The Enthoven family's investment provided capital for international expansion. Dick Enthoven's son Robert (Robby) Enthoven took over running the UK operations in 1993 and transformed the concept from a takeaway to a counter-ordering and table-service model, which proved highly successful in the British market.

The UK expansion was rapid, with Nando's becoming a cultural phenomenon in Britain during the 2000s and 2010s. The chain's peri-peri chicken, casual atmosphere, and affordable pricing made it popular with a wide range of customers, particularly young adults. By 2025, the UK had over 480 Nando's restaurants, making it the company's largest market.

Nando's expanded into other international markets including Australia (first restaurant in 1990), Canada, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and various countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe. The company adapted its menu and restaurant design to local markets while maintaining the core peri-peri chicken concept.

The grocery business, Nando's Grocery International, was developed alongside the restaurant chain. Nando's peri-peri sauces, marinades, and condiments are sold in supermarkets in over 35 countries, providing an additional revenue stream and building brand awareness beyond restaurant locations. The grocery business operates separately from the restaurant operations.

Dick Enthoven died in 2022. The Enthoven family retains ownership of Nando's through a network of holding companies and trusts. The family's ownership structure is complex, with entities registered in multiple jurisdictions, but the family maintains near-total control of the business.

In recent years, Nando's has focused on digital innovation, including the Nando's app and loyalty program (Nando's Rewards), online ordering, and delivery partnerships. The company has also invested in restaurant design, collaborating with Southern African artists and designers to create unique interiors that showcase contemporary African art and design. This commitment to African art has become a distinctive feature of Nando's restaurants globally.

By 2025, Nando's operated over 1,300 restaurants across approximately 30 countries, with approximately 34,000 employees. The UK operations reported revenue of approximately GBP 1.2 billion in 2024, making Nando's one of the largest restaurant chains in the UK by revenue.

Nando's has established sustainability initiatives focused on responsible sourcing, chicken welfare, and community development. The company does not publish a standalone global sustainability report, but its UK entity provides some ESG disclosures through Companies House filings and its website.

Chicken Sourcing and Welfare: Nando's sources chicken from approved suppliers that meet the company's animal welfare standards. In the UK, Nando's has committed to sourcing 100% of its chicken from farms that meet the RSPCA Assured standard (the UK's leading farm animal welfare certification). The company publishes information about its chicken sourcing on its website, including supplier standards and audit processes.

Responsible Sourcing: Nando's works to ensure that key ingredients, including peri-peri chili peppers, are sourced responsibly. The company supports small-scale farmers in Southern Africa who grow peri-peri peppers, providing fair prices and long-term purchase agreements. This supports rural livelihoods in Mozambique, Malawi, and other Southern African countries where peri-peri peppers are grown.

Community Development: The Nando's Foundation supports community development programs in Southern Africa, focusing on education, healthcare, and economic empowerment. The foundation's work includes supporting schools, healthcare clinics, and entrepreneurship programs in underserved communities. The company also supports the fight against malaria in Southern Africa through the Nando's Malaria Initiative.

Environmental Impact: Nando's has committed to reducing its environmental footprint, including reducing energy consumption in restaurants, minimizing food waste, and improving packaging sustainability. The company has introduced recyclable and compostable packaging in some markets and has implemented food waste reduction programs in its restaurants.

African Art and Design: Nando's is known for its practice of displaying contemporary Southern African art and design in its restaurants globally. The company sources art, furniture, and lighting from Southern African artists and designers, providing international exposure and economic opportunities for African creative industries. This commitment to African art is a distinctive aspect of Nando's brand and has been recognized by design and cultural organizations.

Nando's is not a Certified B Corporation. The company's sustainability claims are partially verified through third-party certifications including RSPCA Assured (for chicken welfare in the UK) and through its foundation's community development work.

Nando's has faced relatively limited controversy compared to larger publicly traded restaurant chains, but has encountered some issues:

Marketing Controversies: Nando's marketing, known for its humor and social commentary, has occasionally sparked controversy. In South Africa, Nando's advertisements have addressed political issues including corruption, xenophobia, and racial tensions, leading to occasional complaints and even the withdrawal of some advertisements. While these campaigns have been controversial, they have also been praised for addressing important social issues.

Chicken Welfare Concerns: Despite Nando's commitment to RSPCA Assured standards in the UK, animal welfare organizations have criticized the company and other chicken chains for using fast-growing chicken breeds that can experience health problems. Organizations including Animal Equality and Open Cages have campaigned against the use of fast-growing breeds in the UK restaurant industry, including Nando's.

Labor Practices: Nando's has faced some scrutiny over labor practices, particularly regarding wages and working conditions for restaurant staff. In the UK, the company has been subject to minimum wage regulations and has faced calls to pay the Real Living Wage, which is higher than the statutory minimum. Nando's has reported that it pays above the UK National Living Wage but has not committed to the Real Living Wage.

Supply Chain Transparency: As a private company with complex international supply chains, Nando's faces challenges in supply chain transparency. The company's peri-peri peppers are sourced from small-scale farmers in Southern Africa, and while Nando's reports on its responsible sourcing practices, detailed audit results are not publicly available.

Tax Structure: The Enthoven family's ownership of Nando's through a network of holding companies and trusts registered in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Malta has attracted some scrutiny regarding tax optimization. While the structure is legal, critics have questioned whether the company's tax arrangements are appropriate for a business with significant UK operations. Nando's has stated that its tax arrangements comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Franchise vs. Company-Owned Model: Nando's decision to operate company-owned restaurants in most markets rather than franchising has been debated within the industry. While the company-owned model maintains quality control, it limits expansion speed and requires significant capital investment. Some industry observers have suggested that franchising could accelerate Nando's growth in new markets.