READ THE ARTICLE BELOW AND ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT FOLLOW. How Nandos Champions South African Culture And Cuisine ASK ANY BRIT what their favorite takeaway spot is and theyre sure to mention Nandos. Ask them about the origins of Nandos menu, and theyll probably say Portugal. Its a reasonable answer. Its logo is the Rooster of Barcelos, a famous Portuguese symbol. The food is seasoned with Portuguese spices and Portuguese bread rolls are among the restaurants many sides. However, to label Nandos a product of Portugal isnt strictly true. Nandos was in fact born in Johannesburg, South Africa, making this beloved fast-casual spot a mashup between Portuguese and African cuisines. Heres everything you need to know about the origins of Nandos, and its effort to celebrate and support South Africa. Peri-peri chicken in particular has sparked much debate over its origins. Some say that the Portugese brought the African birds-eye chilli, or peri-peri pepper, to Mozambique from Brazil. Others say it actually first discovered in Zambia and Zimbabwe and brought back to Portugal. While we may never know the exact origin of this spicy capsicum, we do know that it flourishes in a Mozambican climate and is an integral part of African cooking. Peri-peri chicken does not only predate Nandos, it is the reason that Nandos exists. It is a dish that is neither intrinsically Portuguese nor African yet its significance in both cultures is undeniable. The story of peri-peri chickens global takeover begins with two friends looking for a bite to eat. Back in 1987, two pals visited Chickenland, a so-called dodgy takeaway spot in the Johannesburg suburb of Rosettenville. At that time, South Africa was deeply segregated and it was not common for non-Portuguese people to visit this neighborhood. Mozambique-born Fernando Duarte (who is white) introduced his friend, Robert Brozin, a Jewish South African man, to the delights of Portuguese cuisine and Brozin soon fell in love. Brozin became obsessed with the combination of chicken marinated in peri-peri sauce at Chickenland and knew that the world had to taste this glorious dish. Eventually, Brozin and Duarte bought the little restaurant and renamed it Nandos, after Fernandos first-born son. In 1993 the Nandos chain expanded to the UK and as of 2017, there are over 1,000 Nandos locations in 35 countries. Nandos became a celebration of both the Afro-Portuguese community and of South Africa as a whole. In Portugal, piri-piri chicken (as it is spelled there) is a popular dish, but far less chili is used to season it, making it a much milder version than youll find in South Africa. To make Nandos signature peri-peri sauce, the spicy pepper is infused with salt, garlic, lemon, onion, oil, and vinegar. The chicken is then marinated in the sauce for 24 hours, flame-grilled, and served at your desired spice level. Another beloved spicy dish in the southern region of Africa is peri-peri chicken livers, usually served with bread to soak up all those glorious peri-peri juices, as well as garlic soaked Mozambican peri-peri prawns.There were, of course, a few challenges for Nandos before it became the globally recognizable brand it is today. At the time of the restaurants inception, South Africa was in political turmoil under the apartheid regime. The founders had little money and no restaurant experience, all they knew was that they loved peri-peri chicken. Thus began the start of Nandos trademark advertising, which was and continues to be rather controversial. The aim of Nandos advertising strategy was not only to highlight its product but to challenge perceptions of South Africa and to speak to current events in a humorous, tongue-in-cheek fashion. It worked. Nandos advertising has been both criticized and praised for being fearless in tackling taboo subjects around race, religion, politics, and sex. Many of its advertisements have been banned, including one tackling xenophobia, another featuring a puppet modeled after the African National Congress Youth League then-president Julius Malema, and one mocking Robert Mugabe and other well-known dictators. Nandos consistently addresses pertinent social issues in South Africa. According to Doug Place, chief marketing officer for Nandos South Africa, the company is so involved in the countrys politics because no one loves South Africa like we do. Nandos partnered with the Harambee foundation which aims to solve the youth unemployment crisis. The company is also committed to supporting African designers and artists. In 2018 Nandos launched Portal to Africa, a curated online shopping platform that connects its designers to the interior decorators of Nandos restaurants around the world. It also hosts the Nandos Hot Young Designer Talent Search which offers designers an opportunity to showcase their designs with Nandos and to enter into a year-long mentorship program. The company is also interested in improving global health. In 2007, Nandos executives teamed up with South African explorer and philanthropist Kinglsey Holgate to distribute mosquito nets in malaria-endemic regions of Africa. The company has since secured a leading role in the United Against Malaria partnership, launching a bracelet campaign that aims to raise $1 million for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The next time you eat at Nandos, remember this fast-casual chain is about more than just delicious chicken: Its also a celebration of complex African cultures and cuisines, operated by an organization that champions Afro-Portuguese people and their history.

The article makes reference to Nandos controversial advertising strategy. Discuss the major decisions that the Nandos marketing team made in developing their advertising campaigns.(20 marks)