Nando’s accelerates UK restaurant openings amid strong sales
Nando’s has announced plans to accelerate its UK restaurant openings following a year of stronger sales and profits, reports BritPanorama.
The South African-owned peri-peri chicken chain stated that despite the positive results, increased cost pressures due to tax and wage hikes in April will impact its performance for the current financial year.
Nando’s aims to open 14 new restaurants across the UK over the year ending in February, building on a previous expansion that added 12 sites the year before. The latest openings include locations in Bedford, Derby, Peterborough, Bishop Auckland, Maidenhead, Sheffield, Edinburgh Gyle, Paddington, and Liverpool Edge Lane.
In its freshly filed accounts, Nando’s reported an 8% increase in revenues to £1.48 billion for the previous financial year ending February 23, 2025, driven by strong customer demand that boosted sales volumes. Operating profits surged from £59.8 million to £146.6 million, aided by both increased sales and a one-off financial receipt.
Rob Papps, group chief executive of Nando’s, remarked, “The 2025 financial year saw Nando’s continue to deliver a strong sales performance driven by robust consumer demand for our flame-grilled peri-peri chicken supported by our strong brand and customer proposition.”
He acknowledged the uncertain macro-economic outlook for the financial year ending February 2026 but expressed optimism regarding growth potential across all markets. Nando’s continues to invest in its future through menu innovations, digital enhancements, and its current expansion plans.
The company is also taking measures to manage rising costs, implementing productivity improvements such as the rollout of energy-efficient grills across its UK and Irish locations to mitigate energy expenditures. However, it cautioned that cost pressures are expected to persist in influencing overall performance throughout the current financial year.
This commitment to growth amid challenging economic conditions highlights Nando’s determination to strengthen its market presence while navigating evolving cost dynamics.
