Business

Nando's is a South African chain of chicken restaurants, which reached the UK in 1992. It now has 3,000 staff in 122 restaurants and an HR team of 10. Each restaurant also has two 'buddies' who are in charge of HR matters and training at that outlet Nando's is a South African chain of chicken restaurants, which reached the UK in 1992. It now has 3,000 staff in 122 restaurants and an HR team of 10. Each restaurant also has two 'buddies' who are in charge of HR matters and training at that outlet.

Nando's specializes in flame-grilled Peri-Peri chicken. The chicken is served in quarters, halves, wholes, and butterfly breasts (UK and Ireland only). Nando's also serves burgers, pitas, salads, wings and wraps. In some countries, Nando’s sells chicken livers, Espetada (a large stand with a skewer of chicken breast and grilled peppers) and Cataplana (a chicken and rice dish served in a traditional Portuguese copper dish. This is the main food that Nandos offers.

Chicken is what Nando's does. Decent chicken – not organic, but not frozen, nor reconstituted, battery-farmed or pumped full of chemicals either – cooked in front of you, as quick as you like. Chicken that comes extra hot, medium or lemon and herb. Nando's is one of a few modern restaurant brands to have changed the face of British fast food. In recent years the Gourmet Burger Kitchen, promoting its Aberdeen Angus beef and use of Peter Gordon, the father of fusion cuisine, as a consultant, and Wag mama, with its fresh, fast pan-Asian food, are others. All promote just one part of that "fast" deal, in that they serve you fast, but they don't push you out the door at the same speed. No one is saying they're a foodie's paradise but they all offer healthier options than the usual take-out joints. As Jamie Oliver pointed out recently, these days the UK is far less tolerant of rubbishy food than the US. Even McDonald's in the UK has busily revamped its offer – its eggs are free-range, it uses organic milk and its...