NANDO'S: A (UN)SUCCESSFUL BRAND IN ANGOLA
I grew up thinking that our Angolan flame-grilled chiken or, more precisely, o nosso churrasco, was something ‘very ours’ – we had invented it, no one else in the world had ever even thought about it!
I grew up thinking that our Angolan flame-grilled chiken or, more precisely, o nosso churrasco, was something ‘very ours’ – we had invented it, no one else in the world had ever even thought about it!
Well, that was until I found Nando’s for the first time in Botswana, some years ago... then in South Africa... then in London. Then I started hearing about the brand’s success wherever it opened and particularly in African countries. So, I started wondering - especially looking at the majority of Nando's clientele either in Africa or Europe - whether this thing with our churrasco was that ‘very ours’ after all, coz it looked more like a ‘very black ting’ all over the world!
And even though, to my taste, Nando’s flavours all considered didn’t beat our very own Angolan churrasco, I was still convinced that, given a chance, it could be a big hit in Angola – after all the brand is all built around Portuguese mystique, themes and flavours.
But... surprise, surprise... it opened in the heart of Luanda and closed down soon afterwards! And with it went its South African sister brand Steers. Lack of interest from the locals, I was told. More than that: an affront to our very own churrasco! And so, it closed down.
The only other place where I know Nando’s didn’t stand a chance is the most European of South African towns: Stellenbosch. Equally for lack of interest from the locals, albeit for different reasons: apparently it was ‘too black a thing’ to exist in Stellenbosch. And so, it didn’t even ever open there!
But what you really might like to know about Nando’s today is this:
After the ANC Youth League threatened "militant action" against the chicken outlet for making the youth leader appear mathematically challenged, guess who the government hired to feed the masses at President Jacob Zuma's inauguration?
About 32 000 portions of idla nathi -- a Nando's quarter chicken, chips, roll and a cooldrink -- were distributed to amazed citizens who had assembled at the foot of Union Buildings to cheer the new prez on his big day.
4 comments:
Perhaps the people in Luanda considered Nando's SA Grilled Chicken to be a cheap imposter of the famed Angolan original 'O Nosso Churrasco' and that's why the restaurant didn't stand a chance. I'd love to try it out myself, in person, in Angola or South Africa.
Here's an idea:
The Angolan Foreign Minister, Assunção Afonso dos Anjos, was in Washington D.C. this week meeting with key members of the Obama administration to discuss among other things bilateral trade and development. On the 16th anniversary of US-Angolan bilateral relations, US Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk signed the US-Angolan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with the Angolan Foreign Minister. The agreement seeks to help Angola diversify its trade with the United States away from Angola's over-dependence upon petroleum exports (presently about $4 billion/year to the US). Did you know that Angola, Nigeria, and Algeria supply more than 90% of the liquified natural gas consumed on the US East Coast? Yikes, that's dangerous! This of course is why I am visiting you today my dear, to pass along that bit of news in case you somehow missed it.
So what some smart and eager young entrepreneurs in Luanda need to do is figure out how to sell Angola's famous grilled chicken 'O Nosso Churassco' in the United States under the new trade agreement. Who knows, they may become very successful and put Kentucky Fried Chicken out of business or at least cut deeply into their market share. We LOVE chicken in the U.S.A.
You can read more about it over at the America.gov website (click on the Africa subheading) and read the article 'High-Level Engagement with Africa has Started' May 22, 2009. Also have a look at Ambassador Ron Kirk's profile over at the United States Trade Representative website. Ron Kirk is the former Mayor of Dallas, Texas and (oh my gosh), yep, he's black like you and me.
With best regards and wishes for your future,
Bill @ Jewels in the Jungle
P.S. I really like the new look at the 'K Faktor' blog. I was shocked (pleasantly surprised) when I came over for a visit today. Again, all the best Koluki and stay cool and focused down in South Africa this winter.
Hi BRE!
Long time no hear...
Perhaps you should join the Obama Admin's "task force" on Angola and you'll have plenty of opportunities to go there and enjoy the best of our very own churrasco!
You know, the first time I was told of Nando's ill-fate in Luanda was through family members at a Nando's restaurant in London sometime last year and I immediately asked whether any Angolan had thought about doing something similar with 'o nosso churrasco'. The answer was no, but maybe someone is already doing some work on that. I mean this in terms of marketing and commercialising it through chain outlets around the country and abroad. But it is already widely sold at informal markets, kitchens and front doors around the most popular areas of Luanda and done right in front of your eyes - so, anyone can get it from the streets.
And yes, I've been following the Angola-US intense engagement in recent times through the Angolan media - by the way, it is exactly a year today that I met Minister Assuncao dos Anjos for the first time in Lisbon when I went there at his invitation (he was then the Dean of African Ambassadors in Portugal) for a Colloquium on Africa Day. But what is everybody's guess in Angola is when will 'our' Obama go there? There are talks of a first visit by Hillary any time soon and everybody hopes that it is shortly followed by a visit by the Man himself!
As for the bilateral trade agreement, I just hope that it works better than AGOA did in some African countries in the recent past...
Now, going back to 'o nosso churrasco', do you know that Kentucky Fried Chicken is more successful with white South Africans than Nando's?
So, it's not exactly that they don't like chicken...
And as for 'our ting' with chicken I know about it from the States side through the story that Charlie Parker was nicknamed "Bird" because of his love of 'the ting'!
He also, by the way, created a song called "Kongo Blues" which inspired me for the title of my newest blog...
I'm glad you like the new look here.
Stay well and all the best for you too!
Regards,
K
You personally know the present Foreign Minister for Angola? Hmmm ($$$)... we can work with that kind of connection to top government officials in Luanda. Minister Assuncao Anjos could be just the right guy to help U.S. investors save lots of time and hassle when trying to setup fair and transparent business deals in the country.
After reading your response to my comment today I did a bit of checking on U.S.-Angola trade and investment opportunities. First of all it is great to hear that bilateral relations between the U.S. and Angola are steadily improving and yes, President Barack Obama should include Angola in his official tour of African countries in 200_? A visit by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is well, not the same thing, is it? Africans want to see 'The President of the World' in person.
The U.S.- Angola Chamber of Commerce organization has just completed a Trade and Investment Mission to Angola this week. The event had a lot of high-level participation from both U.S. and Angolan government officials and business leaders. Unfortunately what was discussed at the various seminars and presentations is not available to the online public yet.
It is very important that Angola begin to diversify its exports to the U.S. and other countries. I would not fault the U.S.-Africa multilateral trade program AGOA for not delivering on its promise. The door to U.S. markets is open for 1000's of products from AGOA-qualified African countries, but where is your stuff? If you don't make it and export it we can't buy it and please, please don't be sending us some stuff made by Chinese-owned companies based in Angola who are using AGOA as a backdoor to circumvent trade quotas and restrictions on Chinese-made goods. That is NOT how American legislators, businesspeople, and taxpayers envisioned AGOA being used by African business owners.
Lastly, I did find a rather negative outlook on doing business in Angola over at Hillary's place (U.S. Department of State website). Maybe someone from the government in Luanda and/or ANIP needs to get in touch with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and let her know, "Hey baby, things have changed down here in Angola. Y'all need to update that information on the business and investment climate in Angola ASAP."
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs, Finance and Development
Angola: Investment Climate Statements 2008
http://www.state.gov/e/eeb/ifd/2008/100819.htm
When you get the time, read that investment climate statement for 2008. It ain't pretty and its just the kind of information that keeps serious U.S. investors away. Especially the kind of foreign investors who are honest, open to new ideas and business opportunities, and seeking a fair and equal partnership with their African counterparts. Just the kind of investors that the good and hardworking people of Angola so desperately seek and need. Change baby, change is what is needed. That's what President Obama has promised our nation and our allies and friends around the world.
Peace and be well.
Well, my friend, I probably shouldn't be "bragging" about knowing so or so... And it wasn't bragging anyway, just a matter of fact: it happenned and I posted about it here on the blog at the time. But it was just that: I went there, delivered my presentation, met the Ambassador and went away. So, I don't really "know" him personally. So, forget about the 'bling-bling', OK? :-]
Now, there's more to AGOA and its successes and failures than meets the eye. All to do with very complicated trade issues, such as rules of origin and cumulation. That didn't need to translate into failure in some African countries if such rules didn't allow Chinese and Indian factory owners to install themselves there, especially in the textiles industry, only to leave as soon as the GATT Multifibre agreement was phased out. Those are the rules of the game at the WTO that African countries cannot bend unless at a very heavy cost to their economies... And that's what needs to change and that's what I hope Obama will do something about.
As for the business environment report you mention, I'll have a look at it. But I just read in the last couple of days something, somewhere, about a report (by the WB - I will check it) saying precisely the reverse: that the Angolan business environment had improvd significantly since last year.
Peace!
Post a Comment