The president of Nando’s International has approved the company’s Israel investment plan for 1997-8. Nando’s will invest $2.7 million in establishing 9 new branches, in Rishon Lezion, Rehovoth, Haifa, Tel Aviv and the Sharon region. The new branches join the 3 already operating in Tel Aviv, Herzliya and Haifa.
The Israeli franchise was visited recently by the parent company president, in order to assess expected local development.
Nando’s management said they were examining the possible opening of Nando’s shops in Israel, selling various Nando’s brand name products, such as special baked goods, coffee, preserves, sauces, and licensed T-shirts, mugs and more. The first shop of this kind opened this month in South Africa.
The South African-based Nando's is famous for their traditional flame-grilled Portuguese style chicken.
The first Israeli branch opened three years ago at Herzliya’s Neve Amirim. In its third year of operation, the branch reported an 18% increase in sales. The Tel Aviv branch reports that sales increased 40% for the first 6 months of 1996, compared with the parallel 1995 period. The Haifa branch, which opened one year ago, placed first among all Nando’s franchises worldwide (excepting South Africa), in terms of chicken sales.