About Us
Can’t get enough PERi-PERi? That’s because of its fiery Southern African spirit. But what makes it so legendary? Sit back, and we’ll share… our PERi-PERi story will fire your senses and feed your soul.
It’s not just PERi-PERi that comes all the way from Southern Africa. Next time you visit one of our restaurants, take a look around. The art and decor, the music, the energy–it all speaks to our homeland’s heritage.
It’s our global purpose. We want to change the world around us by making a real difference to people’s lives. It starts with our Nandocas (how we say staff), because when they’re being their best, brilliant selves, epic things happen. Our purpose guides and inspires us as we grow. Look for us–in our communities lending a hand, connecting with customers and taking every opportunity to be a force for good.
Our Nandocas are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. They are celebrated for being brilliant and unique. Everyone is welcome to dine at our table, and we hand-on-heart mean it! For us, championing diversity, standing for equal opportunity, supporting development and growth, and having fun while we work is serious business.
PERi-PERi is the heart and soul of Nando’s. Its story is our story. For centuries the people of Southeast Africa have used PERi-PERi to bring fire to their food. It is in Mozambique’s rich soil and blistering sunshine that the African Bird’s Eye Chilli grows into its fiery best. When Portuguese explorers arrived there, they were enchanted by its flavour. They added a squeeze of lemon and a kick of garlic and turned PERi-PERi into a very well-travelled spice. Which is how, many years later it ended up in Rosettenville, Johannesburg.
One afternoon in 1987, two friends went for lunch at a humble Portuguese eatery. As their meal drew to a close, they knew they’d tasted something that had to be shared. PERi-PERi was about to make one more journey – from Rosettenville to the world.
A few centuries later, in 1987, it was the same PERi-PERi sauce that inspired Fernando Duarte to invite his buddy Robbie Brozin to a small Portuguese eatery in Rosettenville, South Africa, to try some PERi-PERi marinated chicken. In his own words: