
How Fast-Food Franchising Actually Works
Almost every restaurant you think of as a chain is owned by someone else entirely. What the franchisee actually buys, and why it explains the price on the board.

Menus and prices in 10 markets, 679 items tracked.
Nando's is South African, founded in Johannesburg in 1987, and its largest market by some distance is the United Kingdom - A brand that found its audience 9,000km from home.
Its most interesting feature for this site is how it handles spice. Most chains calibrate heat down for each market; Nando's makes it an explicit customer choice on a named scale. That converts localisation from a decision the company makes into one the customer makes, and it is why the same menu works in London, Kuala Lumpur and Toronto.
We hold 473 Nando's items across nine markets, with five products in the price index including the quarter and half chicken.
Each market has its own board. Prices are shown in local currency and are not comparable across rows - Use the index below for that.
| Market | Items | Cheapest | Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA Nando's menu prices
USD |
48 | $3.69 | $11.94 | USA menu prices |
| Singapore Nando's menu prices
SGD |
56 | S$2.40 | S$15.27 | Singapore menu prices |
| Malaysia Nando's menu prices
MYR |
53 | RM3.90 | RM26.05 | Malaysia menu prices |
| Hong Kong Nando's menu prices
HKD |
34 | HK$35 | HK$78.32 | Hong Kong menu prices |
| Australia Nando's menu prices
AUD |
76 | A$1.95 | A$14.74 | Australia menu prices |
| Canada Nando's menu prices
CAD |
50 | C$3.56 | C$16.77 | Canada menu prices |
| United Kingdom Nando's menu prices
GBP |
105 | £2.40 | £7.99 | United Kingdom menu prices |
| Ireland Nando's menu prices
EUR |
47 | €3.99 | €11.82 | Ireland menu prices |
| New Zealand Nando's menu prices
NZD |
54 | NZ$2.60 | NZ$6.67 | New Zealand menu prices |
| United Arab Emirates Nando's menu prices
AED |
156 | AED 14 | AED 49.80 | United Arab Emirates menu prices |
Prices are in each market’s own currency and are not comparable across rows; for that, use the price index.
Products sold under one name in four or more of our markets, converted to US dollars at weekly mid-market rates.
| Product | Markets | Cheapest (USD) | Average (USD) | Priciest (USD) | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coleslaw Regular Nando's price by country | 7 | $3.50 | $4.38 | $5.07 | +45% |
| Whole Chicken Nando's price by country | 5 | $13.30 | $23.27 | $38.67 | +191% |
| 1/4 Chicken Nando's price by country | 5 | $5.66 | $9.98 | $14.05 | +148% |
| Mediterranean Salad Nando's price by country | 5 | $8.65 | $12.33 | $14.23 | +64% |
| Naughty Nata Nando's price by country | 5 | $2.29 | $3.02 | $3.69 | +61% |
| Garlic Bread Regular Nando's price by country | 5 | $4.29 | $4.63 | $5.07 | +18% |
| 1/2 Chicken Nando's price by country | 4 | $11.10 | $15.40 | $22.73 | +105% |
| Full Platter Nando's price by country | 4 | $23.71 | $36.13 | $43.01 | +81% |
| PERi-PERi Chips Regular Nando's price by country | 4 | $3.50 | $4.32 | $4.90 | +40% |
| Spicy Mixed Olives Nando's price by country | 4 | $5.07 | $5.70 | $6.81 | +34% |
| Corn on the cob Regular Nando's price by country | 4 | $4.29 | $4.71 | $5.07 | +18% |
| Spicy Rice Regular Nando's price by country | 4 | $4.29 | $4.68 | $5.07 | +18% |
Every item across every Nando's menu, mapped onto our dish taxonomy.
In 1987, a chance lunch at Chickenland in Johannesburg introduced Fernando Duarte and Robert Brozin to a fiery blend of African Bird’s Eye chilies, garlic, and lemon - PERi‑PERi. Enchanted by its bold taste, they seized the opportunity, purchasing the eatery (for approximately 80,000 rand) and renaming it Nando's, inspired by Fernando’s son. From that single restaurant in Rosettenville emerged a brand rooted in warmth, flavor, and family.
At the heart of Nando's lies flame-grilled chicken, infused with signature PERi‑PERi marinades that range from lemon-and-herb to extra-hot. Premium ingredients form the backbone - From ethically sourced chicken to freshly prepared sides and sauces - Ensuring each dish is vibrant and satisfying. Every bite reflects the founders’ commitment to depth of flavor and simple excellence.
Beyond the food, Nando's has woven itself into community life through a spirit of connection and generosity. Whether it’s the “No Chuckin’ Our Chicken” food-donation programme in the UK and Ireland - Which has provided over 4.5 million meals since 2013 - Or support for employability initiatives and regional art programmes, the establishment leaves a lasting mark. With locally inspired décor, artwork sourced from Southern African artists, and staff empowered through skills training, Nando's is more than a restaurant - It’s a welcoming hub.
From its roots in a South African neighbourhood to more than 1,200 restaurants spanning over 30 countries, Nando's continues to honour the spirit of its beginnings. While it has become a beloved global fixture, the brand remains anchored in its original principles: authentic tastes, community care, and genuine hospitality. Every time a PERi‑PERi flame is ignited, that founding spark of shared warmth lives on.

Almost every restaurant you think of as a chain is owned by someone else entirely. What the franchisee actually buys, and why it explains the price on the board.

Localisation is not adding a novelty item. It is a staged process with a predictable sequence, and the menu data shows exactly how far each market has travelled.

Menu boards are designed documents, not lists. Where the money items sit, what the ordering of panels is doing, and how to find the price you actually want.
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