Analysis of financial report reveals casual dining chain is growing faster than market, but business still reports a loss of £36m
Nando’s restaurant plans fail to hatch after ding-dong with trade union
Nando’s has ditched plans to open a restaurant in an East End library where the GMB was founded after facing a backlash from the trade union. The 425-strong chain had set its sights on taking over a site within the Grade II listed Canning Town Library. Negotiations were underway to turn the first floor of…
POWER LIST 2018, CHAIN CHAMPIONS: Henry Unwin, Do The Right Thing Manager, Nando’s
Henry Unwin has one of those job titles that make people look twice at his business card. But the moniker of ‘Do The Right Thing Manager’ — which represents the name of a programme that Nando’s runs internally — couldn’t be a more apt way of describing what his role entails. With more than 400…
EXCLUSIVE: Nando’s paints a blueprint for green restaurants
From converting the heat generated by its grills into hot water to donating leftover food waste to hundreds of charities, Nando’s has created a blueprint for sustainable restaurant and kitchen design that can be rolled out across multiple sites. Henry Unwin (main image) has one of those job titles that makes people look twice at…
Nando’s ‘fit-out guide’ puts project managers on the pathway to green practices
Nando’s is challenging its restaurants to become as sustainable as possible by following a dedicated ‘Green Fit-Out Guide’ that serves as a best practice template for its burgeoning UK estate. The 400-strong chain believes that up to 50 restaurants a year could achieve the standards set out in the guide, which covers a range of…
EXCLUSIVE: Nando’s trials new heat recovery method in pursuit of green agenda
Nando’s is examining how heat recovery systems linked to its extract ducts might be able to drive energy savings and make its operations greener, FEJ can reveal. The casual dining chain is driving hard to be one of the most environmentally-friendly restaurant operators in the industry, with its purpose-built restaurant in Cambridge acting as a…
Nando’s quietly introduces first small format restaurant offer to UK market
Nando’s has launched a new small format restaurant offer that could be rolled out to parts of the UK. The chain’s ‘Nino’ concept is designed for when customers are in a rush, on the go or want a quick takeaway or delivery option. The first Nino store is based in Twickenham and opened for business…
Kitchen kit-outs play part in Nando’s turnover rocketing £104m in one year
Heavy investment in innovation and technology, including new kitchen equipment, is among the factors that helped Nando’s add £104m to its turnover this year, FEJ can reveal. Revenues at the chain soared 14% to £847.9m for the year to 26 February 2017, driven by organic growth in key markets. Gross profit rose to £194.8m in…
Pre-delivery microwave customisation takes the guesswork out of chain kitchens
Chain giants such as Nando’s, Casual Dining Group and Costa Coffee are benefitting from pre-programmed and fully customised Sharp microwaves thanks to a partnership between UK supplier RH Hall and Bunzl Lockhart Catering Equipment. Lockhart serves a number of national chains and has worked closely with RH Hall, the exclusive Sharp commercial microwave agent in…
POWER LIST 2017, CHAIN CHAMPIONS: Adele Hing, Kitchen & Equipment Development Manager, Nando’s
Having joined Nando’s from supermarket giant Waitrose last year, Adele Hing has brought a fresh pair of eyes to the operational side of the 400-strong restaurant chain. Her remit has involved exploring new equipment and devising the kind of kitchen blueprints that will keep the company, which now makes UK sales in excess of £800m…
