Nando’s opens 150 new restaurants across India

Nando’s has joined forces with India’s K Hospitality to bolster its presence in the country and has serious expansion ambitions.

The joint venture is set to roll out 150 new restaurants across various Indian cities by 2033.

The collaboration will make its debut in just a few short weeks – with a new outlet in Hyderabad.

“As brands and businesses, both partners have a lot in common, which not only includes an insatiable taste for Nando’s signature flame-grilled Peri-Peri chicken but also an equally strong passion for hospitality and people,” K Hospitality executive director Karan Kapur told ETHospitalityWorld.com.

“We look forward to scaling up Nando’s presence across multiple cities in India over the coming decade.”

A SHORT HISTORY OF NANDO’S

Nando’s was started by Robert Brozin and Fernando Duarte in South Africa. Fernando was from Porto, Portugal, and his family had emigrated to South Africa.

In 1987 Fernando took Brozin to a chicken restaurant called Chickenland in Rosettenville, Johannesburg. Brozin was so impressed with the restaurant’s flame-grilled chicken that he proposed the pair of them buy the restaurant.

The Nando’s franchise now currently operates more than 1 200 restaurants across 22 countries and five continents.

The company’s speciality is flame-grilled Peri-Peri style chicken, sold in quick-service style restaurants.

Attempting to sell a spicy food product in India is a daunting prospect for the company, but they have expressed confidence in the partnership with K Hospitality.

“Selling spicy, flavourful food to the food-loving nation that invented it is no easy feat,” said Nando’s licensed markets and India CEO, John Sikiotis.

“But with their deep market knowledge, we are incredibly excited to welcome K Hospitality Corp as our joint venture partner into the family.”

AN INDIAN FOOD GIANT

K Hospitality, a prominent player in India’s food and beverage sector, boasts a diverse portfolio of 500 outlets and employs 10 000 people.

The group’s operations span across various segments, including quick-service restaurants, bars, cafes, banqueting services, and travel food and beverage markets.

Their portfolio includes acclaimed brands such as Nando’s, Copper Chimney, TFS, Idli.com, and Bombay Brasserie.

The partnership between Nando’s and K Hospitality signals a strategic move to tap into India’s growing appetite for international cuisine and elevate the dining experience for Indian consumers.

TEETHING PROBLEMS

Early on, Nando’s struggled to get started in some countries; specifically the UK. After the franchise rights were sold in 1992, the first UK restaurant opened shortly after in Ealing, West London.

The UK now has 392 Nando’s restaurants, more than any other country.