About Nandos
Nando's: Bringing PERi-PERi Passion to British Kitchens Nando's has become one of Britain's most beloved food brands, transforming from a single South African restaurant into a cultural phenomenon that spans restaurants, supermarket products, and a devoted fan base. The distinctive flame-grilled PERi-PERi flavour that made the restaurant chain famous is now available in every major UK supermarket, bringing the Nando's experience home. At Grocefully, we help you compare Nando's product prices across UK supermarkets, ensuring you find the best deals on these popular PERi-PERi products. The Origins of Nando's The Nando's story begins in 1987 in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, South Africa. Portuguese-born Fernando Duarte and South African-born Robert Brozin visited a Portuguese Mozambican takeaway named Chickenland and experienced something transformative – chicken prepared with peri peri sauce in the traditional Portuguese-African style. The flavour was so compelling that the pair decided to buy the restaurant on the spot for approximately 80,000 rand (equivalent to about £25,000 at the time). This impulsive decision would prove to be one of the most significant business moves in casual dining history. The name 'Nando's' derives from a nickname for the Portuguese male name Fernando, honouring one of the founders. The logo features the Rooster of Barcelos, one of Portugal's most recognised symbols, representing the Portuguese heritage that underpins the brand's identity. Understanding PERi-PERi At the heart of Nando's success lies PERi-PERi, the distinctive chilli sauce that gives all Nando's products their characteristic flavour profile. Understanding PERi-PERi helps appreciate what makes Nando's products special. PERi-PERi is also known as the African Bird's Eye Chilli, a small but powerful chilli variety native to Mozambique and southern Africa. The chilli itself provides intense heat balanced with fruity, citrus-like notes that distinguish it from other hot chilli varieties. Nando's doesn't just use any PERi-PERi – they grow their own chillies throughout Southern Africa, particularly in Mozambique. This vertical integration ensures quality control and consistency whilst supporting over 1,400 farmers across nearly 500 acres of cultivation. The heritage of PERi-PERi reflects the blend of cultures present in Mozambique for centuries. Portuguese colonisers discovered the local chillies and developed sauces combining African ingredients with European culinary techniques. This fusion created something unique that eventually spread across the border to South Africa and, through Nando's, to the world. The Signature Sauce Nando's signature sauce combines PERi-PERi chillies with salt, garlic, lemon, onion, oil, and vinegar. This relatively simple combination creates complex, layered flavours that enhance rather than overwhelm food. In the restaurants, chicken is marinated in PERi-PERi sauce for 24 hours before flame-grilling, allowing the flavours to penetrate deeply into the meat. This extended marination and the flame-grilling technique combine to create the distinctive Nando's flavour. The same sauce philosophy underpins the supermarket products, ensuring that home cooks can achieve results reminiscent of the restaurant experience. From Restaurant to Retail The decision to launch supermarket products represented a significant strategic move for Nando's. Despite initial scepticism from those who felt the restaurant brand shouldn't venture into bottled sauces, the move proved enormously successful. Today, Nando's sauces feature in all major supermarkets where the restaurant brand operates. In the UK, you can find Nando's products in Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, and other major retailers. The products have become staples in British kitchens, allowing consumers to recreate Nando's flavours at home. The retail range has expanded significantly since its launch, now including various sauce heat levels, marinades, cooking sauces, seasonings, and accompaniments. This comprehensive range means home cooks can create complete Nando's-style meals without visiting a restaurant. The UK Market Success The United Kingdom has become Nando's largest and most successful market. The brand has achieved household name status in Britain, with Nando's becoming part of the cultural fabric in ways that few restaurant chains achieve. This success extends beyond restaurants to retail products. British consumers have embraced the ability to bring Nando's flavours home, making the sauce range a regular feature on shopping lists across the country. The devotion of British Nando's fans has spawned numerous cultural phenomena, from the concept of 'cheeky Nando's' entering common parlance to devoted fans ranking heat levels and menu items with almost religious fervour. Understanding the Heat Levels Nando's products come in various heat levels, allowing consumers to choose their preferred intensity. Understanding these levels helps shoppers select appropriate products. The heat scale typically runs from mild options through medium to hot and extra hot varieties. Lemon and Herb sits at the gentler end for those preferring flavour without significant heat. Medium PERi-PERi provides noticeable warmth without overwhelming. Hot delivers serious heat for chilli enthusiasts, whilst Extra Hot challenges even dedicated spice lovers. This variety ensures Nando's products suit everyone from young families to hardened heat seekers. The consistent heat level labelling across products makes it easy to navigate the range and find appropriate options. The Nando's Product Range Nando's supermarket products have expanded into a comprehensive range covering multiple culinary applications. PERi-PERi Sauces The core of the range remains the PERi-PERi sauces available in various heat levels. These versatile sauces can be used as table condiments, marinades, cooking ingredients, or finishing sauces. The classic Hot PERi-PERi Sauce delivers the signature Nando's flavour with substantial heat. Medium PERi-PERi offers more accessible warmth for everyday use. Lemon and Herb provides the citrus-garlic profile without chilli intensity. Speciality variants include Garlic PERi-PERi for those who prefer garlic-forward flavours and various limited-edition options that appear periodically. Marinades Dedicated marinade products simplify home cooking by providing ready-to-use preparations specifically designed for marinating meat before cooking. The marinades incorporate the same PERi-PERi base with additional ingredients optimised for penetrating and flavouring raw meat. Using these products before grilling, roasting, or barbecuing helps achieve results closer to the restaurant experience. Cooking Sauces For maximum convenience, cooking sauces provide complete meal solutions. These products allow home cooks to create PERi-PERi dishes by simply combining the sauce with cooked protein. Cooking sauces suit busy households wanting Nando's flavours without the effort of building dishes from scratch. They're particularly useful for quick midweek meals. Seasonings and Rubs Dry seasoning products provide alternative ways to add PERi-PERi flavour. Rubs can be applied to meat before cooking, creating flavourful crusts and infusing dishes with characteristic Nando's taste. These products offer different textural results compared to wet sauces and suit particular cooking methods like dry-rub barbecue or roasting. Coat and Cook Products Some products combine coatings with PERi-PERi flavouring, allowing consumers to create crispy, flavoured chicken at home. These convenient products simplify the process of achieving restaurant-style results. Accompaniments The range extends to accompaniments including perinaise (mayonnaise with PERi-PERi) and other condiments that complete the Nando's meal experience at home. Cooking with Nando's Products Getting the best results from Nando's products involves understanding how to use them effectively. Marinating for Maximum Flavour For the most authentic results, marinate chicken in Nando's sauce for several hours or overnight. This extended contact time allows flavours to penetrate the meat, replicating the restaurant's 24-hour marination process as closely as practically possible. Even shorter marination periods of one to two hours provide meaningful flavour improvement compared to simply adding sauce after cooking. Grilling Techniques Flame-grilling delivers the most authentic Nando's experience. If you have access to a barbecue or grill, cooking marinated chicken over direct heat creates the charred edges and smoky notes characteristic of restaurant-prepared dishes. For those without outdoor grilling options, a hot griddle pan or grill pan provides reasonable results. High heat creates grill marks and develops flavour through caramelisation. Building Complete Meals A complete Nando's-style meal involves more than just chicken. Consider sides like corn on the cob, coleslaw, and chips to recreate the restaurant experience. Nando's sauces work well with multiple protein options including chicken wings, thighs, breasts, and even non-chicken alternatives for variety. The Brand Values Nando's has cultivated strong brand values that resonate with consumers beyond mere food appreciation. Since inception, the company has emphasised that they're not just about the chicken. The Rooster of Barcelos symbol embodies five core values: pride, passion, courage, integrity, and family. These values have guided the brand's organic growth across five continents over more than 35 years. The family value particularly manifests in Nando's treatment of their PERi-PERi farmers. By establishing relationships with over 1,400 farmers in Mozambique, Nando's supports communities whilst securing their supply chain – a model that benefits all parties. Global Presence Founded in Johannesburg, Nando's now operates over 1,200 outlets across 30 countries. This remarkable expansion has taken the PERi-PERi concept from a single South African restaurant to a global brand. Different markets have embraced Nando's in different ways. The UK's enthusiasm has made it the brand's largest market, whilst growth continues in markets including the United States, where restaurant numbers are expanding steadily. The retail products extend the brand's reach further, appearing in supermarkets, corner shops, and online retailers worldwide. This omnichannel presence means consumers can experience Nando's flavours regardless of restaurant proximity. Comparing Nando's Prices Across UK Supermarkets One of the key benefits of shopping for Nando's products through Grocefully is the ability to compare prices across UK supermarkets. Nando's products are available virtually everywhere, but prices vary between retailers. Major supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, and Morrisons all stock comprehensive Nando's ranges. Promotional offers frequently provide significant savings, particularly on multibuys. Given that keen Nando's fans might purchase multiple products regularly – different heat levels, various sauce types, and accompaniments – price comparison helps manage overall spend. These savings accumulate meaningfully over time for devoted consumers. Why Choose Nando's Products? Several factors distinguish Nando's from generic hot sauce alternatives. Authentic heritage connects the products to genuine culinary tradition. The PERi-PERi recipes reflect centuries of Portuguese-African food culture, not merely laboratory-developed flavour profiles. Restaurant validation means the products have proven themselves in professional kitchens. The same flavours that made the restaurants successful translate to supermarket products. Quality sourcing through their farmer partnerships ensures ingredient quality. By growing their own chillies, Nando's controls the fundamental ingredient that defines their products. Range comprehensiveness means Nando's offers products for every application, from table sauces to marinades to cooking sauces. The Cultural Phenomenon Nando's occupies a unique position in British food culture. The brand has transcended mere restaurant or product status to become a cultural reference point. The phrase 'cheeky Nando's' entered British vernacular, representing something quintessentially enjoyable about casual dining with friends. The brand has featured in countless memes, social media posts, and cultural commentary. This cultural cachet extends to the retail products. Using Nando's sauces at home connects consumers to something larger than a bottle of hot sauce – it's participation in a shared cultural experience. Home Cooking Made Special Nando's products transform ordinary home cooking into something more special. A simple grilled chicken becomes a Nando's-style feast with proper marination and sauce application. This transformation suits multiple occasions. Casual midweek dinners gain interest and excitement. Weekend barbecues become themed events. Even quick lunches improve with a dash of PERi-PERi. For families, Nando's products offer ways to please multiple palates. The heat level variety means spice-averse family members can enjoy mild options whilst heat seekers satisfy their cravings with extra hot varieties. Conclusion Nando's has earned its place in British food culture through genuine quality and distinctive flavour. The PERi-PERi sauce that started in Mozambique and grew through South Africa now adds fire and flavour to kitchens across the United Kingdom. Whether you're a devoted Nando's fan seeking to recreate restaurant favourites at home or a home cook looking to add excitement to everyday meals, Nando's supermarket products deliver authentic PERi-PERi flavour. By comparing prices across UK supermarkets through Grocefully, you can enjoy these products whilst ensuring you're getting the best available value. Explore Nando's products on Grocefully today and discover how smart shopping can help you bring the flame-grilled PERi-PERi experience home without paying more than necessary.























