S African restaurant chain to open in Cork

NANDO’S, the popular South African restaurant chain which specialises in peri-peri chicken, is to open its first outlet outside Dublin at Mahon Point shopping centre.

The restaurant chain expects the Cork outlet to be open before Christmas and it will employ 40 people. Nando’s is one of the most popular restaurants in Britain and it opened its first Irish outlet at Dundrum shopping centre in September 2008. The company is also looking at a possible outlet on Cork’s Oliver Plunkett Street or Washington Street.

The general manager of Nando’s in Ireland Alan Snyman said the Dundrum outlet had a “solid performance” last year and this year is already “better than thought”.

He said that they will consider the opening of more outlets outside of Dublin as soon as the Mahon Point restaurant is up and running. Last week Nando’s opened its second Dublin restaurant at the Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords. It is planning more Dublin outlets, with one due to open on Mary Street in February next year and is also considering opening outlets in Blanchardstown and Liffey Valley shopping centres. The Swords restaurant will bring 35 full and part-time jobs to the area. Nando’s is the home of Portuguese, flame-grilled peri-peri chicken.

Restaurant manager Duncan Smith said: “I’m delighted to be opening our second Nando’s restaurant in Dublin. It is also an added bonus to be able to create 35 new jobs in this locality.”

Nando’s is described as a casual dining restaurant. It originated in South Africa and has a Portuguese/Mozambique theme.

Founded in 1987, Nando’s operates in 34 countries.