By SIMON HENDERY
A South African chain selling Afro-Portuguese fare says it plans to spice up the local chicken-restaurant scene.
Nando's, with a menu including chilli-basted chicken, burgers, chicken ribs, salads and fries, intends opening up to 25 franchised New Zealand stores during the next four years.
Speaking after the opening of the
chain's third restaurant - in Hamilton - yesterday, Nando's founder Robbie Brozin said he had been warned that New Zealanders had conservative tastebuds, but market research indicated the company's spicy offerings would go down well here.
"Worldwide there is a big trend towards spicy ethnic foods and we believe that is just starting out in New Zealand at the moment," Mr Brozin said.
"Markets which have started off being conservative we've found to be very successful for us."
Nando's opened its first New Zealand restaurant in Wairau Park late last year, and two more are planned, at Botany Downs and Mt Eden.
New Zealand's largest chicken restaurant chain, KFC, turned over $175 million through its 89 stores in 2000. The company plans to open two new stores this year, but analysts say it has almost saturated its store-growth potential.
