Why is Nando's closed and when is it re-opening?

Why is Nando's closed and when is it re-opening? All you need to know as the iconic fast food chain faces chicken shortages. 

Nando's is expected to fully re-open all of its restaurants after it temporarily shut 50 branches following a chicken shortage.

The famous chicken chain announced plans to temporarily close 50 outlets across the UK earlier this week.

Food shortages forced the famous chicken restaurant to close around 50 of its stores in the UK.

It comes just after Nando's made some incredible changes to its menu and was giving away free chicken to students on results day.

But this week customers have been told that Nando's is set to re-open all of its branches on Saturday - so why is Nando's closed this week?

Why is Nando's closed?

Nando's has confirmed that it has closed around 50 of its restaurants due to a shortage to its chicken supply and staffing problems.

A spokesperson for Nando's issued a statement that reads, 'The UK food industry has been experiencing disruption across its supply chain in recent weeks due to staff shortages and Covid isolations, and a number of our restaurants have been impacted.

'However, since Monday, a team of our brilliant Nandocas have been supporting our key suppliers onsite - working in partnership to help get things moving again, and this has already had a positive impact on affected restaurants.'

It comes just days after KFC announced it was running out of chicken and as a result some of its chicken menu items would not be available due to a shortage.

And it's understood that Nando's uses Avara, Moy Park, and 2 Sisters Food Group to supply its store with chicken and the chain has sent 70 staff to try and help its suppliers.

The shortages follow a stark warning last month from Ranjit Singh Boparan, founder of the country's largest supplier of supermarket chicken, the 2 Sisters Food Group.

"Supply of chicken and turkey is under threat. Our retail partners and the wider supply chain have worked together closer than ever before to ensure we retain food supply and this is of huge credit to everyone. But we are at crisis point," he warned.

The problem has also affected other industries, including carmakers, transport operators, restaurants and pubs.

But from this week fully-vaccinated staff are no longer required to self-isolate which should help ease the pressure on businesses.

Which Nando's restaurants are closed?

If your local branch doesn’t have opening hours listed on the Nando’s website - then it’s shut. It's understood that the following Nando's restaurants are temporarily closed...

North West

• White City, Manchester
• Arndale, Manchester
• Oxford Road, Manchester
• Carlisle
• Rotherham - Parkgate

London

• The O2 Greenwich
• Bethnal Green
• White Chapel
• Clapham
• Park Royal
• Victoria - Cardinal Place
• One New Change
• Clapham
• Southgate
• Chiswick
• Gatwick - South Terminal

Midlands

• Birmingham Bullring
• Leicester - Meridian
• Dudley

South West

• Cardiff – St David’s
• Swindon Orbital
• Southampton Guildhall

South East

• Reading – Friar Street
• Stevenage – Roaring Meg
• Rushden Lakes
• Coventry – City

When is Nando's set to re-open?

Nando's is set to re-open all of its stores on Saturday (21st August).

A Nando's spokesperson told The Mirror, "It is our intention to have all of our restaurants up and trading again from this Saturday, as a result of the hard work behind the scenes, and we look forward to welcoming our customers back to enjoy their favourite peri-peri chicken."

But if you can't wait until then to get your fix of Peri-Peri chicken goodness, a homemade takeaway will have to do!