LINK to CFA press release from 2009, announcing appointment of Paul Dean

LINK to blog report on Nando’s visit in the UK

The best part of it?  They co-branded with a radio-station:  99.3 CFOX-FM.  This allows them to get a ton of airtime and airplay and mention of Subway, which is good for everyone.  This is marketing genius and guarantees a ton of radio-mentions for the entire four weeks that the promotion is in effect. 

Really………….how many raspberry cheesecake cookies do you think they will really sell?  It may not add up to a lot of money, but it’s the cause, it’s the publicity, and it’s a good idea that was dreamed up back in the summer and kudos to the local Subway marketing team for dreaming up something like this. 

This is smart marketing.

as published in The Guardian and The Observer, from the UK.  dated Sunday May 16 2010.

LINK to Guardian article on Nando’s UK market penetration

Note, that this is partly a result of the increased immigration in the UK from peoples from areas closer to the equator, that tend to like hotter, spicier foods.

Marketing in North America will need to be different because these demographics are not uniformly distributed across Canada, nor are they uniformly present in all regions of the various urban centres.  Nando’s Canada—-take note.

The selection of liquid refreshment that I see at my local Nando’s seems pretty paltry, and this is likely costing the chain gross and net revenues as a result of the limited and paltry selection.

There is a growing demographic that enjoys spicy foods.

Some eat beef.  Some eat chicken.  Beef and beef-burgers simply isn’t common fare in many areas closer to the equator.  In parts of India, the cow is considered sacred, and simply isn’t eaten………..at all.

Years ago, there were more curry houses in the UK than there were, fish&chip houses.  That evolution is slowly coming to North America, as more darker-skinned people immigrate here from areas closer to the equator. 

As more restaurants and fast-food joints figure this out, there will gradually more and more food alternatives for those people who are now Nando’s core clientele.

Dont take for granted, the customer loyalty that you are now enjoying.  Nando’s Canada HQ take note!  Eventually, these new migrants, and their next generation who are born in North America, will begin to take a liking to beef and burgers.  Dont’ wait to let someone come in and eat your lunch.

PS Nandos……………..THEY ARE SHOWING PICTURES OF THE FOOD!!!!!!

and then, the retraction and withdrawal:

This is great, creative, and memorable marketing—-count the number of hits, and you will see how many eyeballs this ad campaign garnered, probably intentionally.    Nando’s Canada needs to think of something along these lines to get the word out about Nando’s.

good marketing, even if it is annoying, simply gets your attention, and also is memorable.  bad marketing, is not even paid attention to.

Much of the Nando’s south africa marketing is memorable and controversial.  it is definitely not forgetable.  Much of the Nando’s Canada marketing is………yawn, and ho-hum.  not sure how much of the canadian stuff is memorable.

Coupons for a&w, nando’s, and subway wasn’t that far behind

it would only make sense for nando’s head office to give the customer what they want.

coupons?  not that i can see of

catering menu?  it’s a joke

time to wake up, nando’s HQ.  or heads should roll.