Meet Andrew Lynch, Nando's CEO

Becky Martin, writer

Published at 28/05/2019, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 5 min

Meet Andrew Lynch, Nando's CEO
Photo © nandos-ceo.jpg
andrew lynch nandos
Photo © andrew-lynch-nandos.jpg

Over the last two decades, few brands can claim to have been as successful in the UK market as Nando’s. The Portuguese-inspired chicken chain is now one of the country’s biggest brands and continues to grow its operations around the globe. Here, we learn more about the Nando’s CEO, Andrew Lynch.


Who is Nando’s CEO, Andrew Lynch?

The current Nando’s CEO is Andrew Lynch. Having worked for the SSP Group, Compass Group, KPMG and Traveller’s Fare, Mr Lynch was appointed CEO of Nando’s in January 2014 and has remained in the position ever since. His experience leading large and complex multinationals made him an obvious candidate for the role, and his proven record of success building shareholder value ensured he was a shoo-in for the position.

One of the critical tasks Mr Lynch faces as CEO of Nando’s is streamlining and reorganising the company structure. Over the years, Nando’s has evolved organically and in a slightly haphazard way. This has resulted in a complicated and convoluted structure that needs to be simplified and clarified. He will also attempt to grow the business further, opening new locations in both the UK and abroad.

What is Nando’s?

Nando’s is a casual dining restaurant chain that serves Portuguese-inspired chicken that’s marinated in the brand’s distinctive and world-famous peri-peri sauces. Originally from South Africa, the chain has experienced enormous international growth and now operates on five continents and in a remarkable number of countries.

The company has run highly influential marketing campaigns, successfully manufactured a widespread social media following and become something of a viral phenomenon in the UK after the Peri Boyz released the parody song “Cheeky Nando’s” in 2015. The incredible popularity of the song ensured that “Cheeky Nando’s" became the catchphrase of the summer and could be heard up and down high streets across the UK. It also cemented the restaurant chain's position as one of the country's best-loved eateries.


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History of Nando’s

  • Established in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1987, Nando’s is the perfect example of a beautiful collision of cultures and taste sensations. The company’s story begins with Portuguese-born Fernando Duarte taking his friend Robert Brozin to a Portuguese restaurant in Johannesburg.
  • The pair were so impressed after trying the chicken (and peri-peri) that they chose to buy the restaurant. Paying approximately £25,000 for the business, they decided to rename it in honour of Duarte’s first son, Fernando.
  • The restaurant chain expanded rapidly and by 1989 had grown to encompass three restaurants in Johannesburg and another in Portugal. By 1992, the business was ready to develop further, and the brand looked towards the UK market.
  • Its first UK restaurant opened in Ealing, London. Emerging at a time when consumers were growing increasingly fed up with large, faceless food brands like McDonald’s, Nando’s struck a chord with the UK public and hasn’t looked back since.
  • Now, the restaurant chain operates almost 400 restaurants in the UK.

Does Nando’s franchise?

Currently, Nando’s does not franchise in either the UK or Ireland. The business has also gone on record saying that there are absolutely no plans to offer franchise opportunities in the future. Internationally, Nando’s has franchising opportunities in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, so if you're looking to learn more about the future of Nando's franchising, consult our article.

A favourite among Brits Nando's operates almost 400 restaurants in the UK

Other franchise opportunities in the chicken restaurant industry

As Nando’s does not offer franchising opportunities to investors in the UK, interested parties will have to look at other possibilities. We’ll now look at two more in more detail.

Favorite

Favorite is the biggest British-based fried chicken franchise in the UK and has been successfully trading since 1986. For over 30 years, Favorite has offered a fully structured franchise system while maintaining an affordable cost for franchisees. Not only is all the meat served by Favorite approved as halal, but in 1998 it was also the first UK food chain to declare a ‘GM Free Zone’.

  • Becoming a Favorite franchisee: You should share the brand’s passion for serving wholesome, unprocessed food. Favorite believes in offering convenient meals made from fresh chicken.
  • How much you need to invest: The franchise fee includes the cost of setting up the shop, a 10-year agreement contract with the option to renew and 12 months of exclusivity in an agreed territory. The minimum investment required for a Favorite franchise is £100,000.
  • What you get for your investment: Franchisees are allocated a field specialist from the start of the process until the unit is up and running. You’ll also be given marketing materials for local promotional campaigns and support in other aspects of the business.

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Franzos

Founded in 2012 as an alternative to the dominant Piri Piri restaurant brand in the UK, this food franchise set its sights on becoming the go-to choice for delicious, freshly-cooked Piri Piri chicken. Franzos is determined to challenge the market leaders and encourages interested franchisees to get in touch now to reserve a territory.

  • Becoming a Franzos franchisee: The ideal Franzos franchisee is someone with a can-do attitude and a good understanding of exceptional customer service. You should be a thoughtful manager in order to understand and attend to the personal and professional needs of staff. It is essential to be passionate about all things Franzos and respect the brand’s values and ethos.
  • How much you need to invest: Interested franchisees need to make a minimum investment of £150,000, including franchise fees of £17,500. The franchise suggests that the expected revenue after two years is £750,000.
  • What you get for your investment: Franzos offers in-store franchisee training spread over two weeks, assistance with the recruitment and training of staff, comprehensive business support and unique marketing campaigns to ensure that you can hit the ground running.

Start a chicken franchise today

If you want to follow in Nando’s CEO Andrew Lynch’s footsteps, why not consider starting a chicken franchise? If you're looking for the right food franchise to get yourself started, you can see five of our favorite opportunities on our website.

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Becky Martin, writer

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