Nando's PERi-PERi

Nando's is a globally recognized brand that originated in South Africa, celebrated for its Portuguese-Mozambican fusion cuisine. Founded in 1987 in Johannesburg by Fernando Duarte and Robert Brozin, the brand was built around the legendary PERi-PERi (African Bird's Eye Chilli). The founders initially purchased a small eatery called Chickenland and rebranded it to Nando's, named after Duarte's son.

While the brand is synonymous with its restaurant chain, it has a significant retail presence through its range of sauces, marinades, and snacks. The manufacturing of these retail products occurs in multiple locations to support its global supply chain, though many core sauce components and the chillies themselves are sourced from farms in Southern African countries including Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. This ensures the brand maintains its authentic heritage while meeting international demand.

As of 2026, Nando's remains a private entity ultimately owned by the Enthoven family. The family, through their investment vehicle Yellowwoods, provided the crucial capital and long-term vision that transformed the brand from a local South African favorite into a multinational powerhouse with over 1,200 locations worldwide.