South Africa's beloved flame-grilled chicken chain launches in Atlanta after US success. The first location will open in Dunwoody's High Street development with a second location planned for Peachtree Corners. The chain was founded in Johannesburg in 1987 and now has 1,250 restaurants in 35 countries including the UK, Portugal, and America where it has 47 stores. Atlanta has been a popular city for South Africans looking for greener pastures in the United States and even has a direct flight connection to South Africa.
Nando's, a popular South African chicken chain, has opened its first store in Atlanta, Georgia at the High Street development in Dunwoody. A second location is planned at The Forum at Peachtree Corners. The High Street development is a 2 billion dollar, 36-acre mixed-use development that will have other popular eateries putting Nando's offering to the test.
The chain isn't new to America and has 47 restaurants across Washington DC (6), Virginia (11), Illinois (12), Maryland (13), Texas (4) and now Georgia (1). It was founded in Johanessburg in 1987 by Fernando "Nando" Duarte and Robbie Brozin and quickly gained popularity for the peri-peri sauce it used on its flame-grilled chicken. The UK was the first market it expanded in 1992, next Portugal in 1993, and by 2000 had 500 stores worldwide. The brand arrived in America in 2003 and in 2023 announced plans to expand into Asia and the Middle East.
Nando's is known in South Africa for its "cheeky" advertising and didn't disappoint in Atlanta offering for months only a teaser in local media outlets reading "Atlanta, we hear you love spiece." No location or further information was provided.
Nando's does well on social media and has an impressive 4.6 million "followers" on Facebook, more than competitors it will face in Atlanta such as Chipotle (3.2 million), Cava (66,000) Shake Shack (459,000) El Pollo Loco (446,000), and Schlotzsky's (143,000), combined!