Nando’s closed latest news – Massive chicken SHORTAGE forces 50 restaurants to shut around UK – is your branch closing?
NANDO’S has been forced to shut around 50 outlets after a supply chain crisis left it running out of chicken.
Seventy of its staff have been sent to factories to help suppliers hit by a crippling shortage of workers.
Fast food fans were feeling fillet down last night by the shortage of chicken.
Yesterday Nando’s apologised to customers after running low on its popular Peri-Peri dish.
The chain — which serves a million meals a week — was forced to shut around 50 restaurants across Britain because of serious supply problems triggered by the Covid app pingdemic.
Read our Nando's live blog for the latest updates....
HAS THERE BEEN A CHICKEN SHORTAGE BEFORE?
Only last week, KFC suffered chicken shortages linked to similar supply problems.
The fast food chain warned customers some menu items would be unavailable due to food shortages following “weeks of disruption”.
A statement told fried chicken fans that “things may be a little different” in store and packaging might also be changed.
It was the second time KFC had faced supply issues, previously running out of chicken in 2018.
At the time, the chain sparked fury after closing more than 600 branches across the UK.
It blamed the shortage on problems with new delivery firm DHL.
CLOSURES HIT VEGANS TOO
Vegan Nando’s will be cursing their meat loving friends as the closures mean they can’t get their Peri-peri fix despite not being interested in chicken.
Last year, Nando’s introduced its vegan chicken burger called The Great Imitator made out of pea protein.
It is hoping to capitalise on the growing trend for more eco-conscious and cruelty free diets.
Nando’s has always had vegetarian items on the menu for THAT person in your friend group but now it is hoping to cater to a whole new market.
WEDDING WINGS
One person who may be suffering from the Nando’s shortage would be singer Ed Sheeran – who was so desperate to get his peri peri fix he set up a Nando’s stall at his wedding.
The singer-songwriter, who released joke track Nando’s Skank in 2011, had two celebrations when he wed Cherry, 29.
They tied the knot at a quiet do in 2019 but later hosted a party and hired food stands for pals, such as Sam Smith, at Ed’s pad in Suffolk.
Singer Jessie Ware, 36, said to Sheeran, 30, on her Table Manners podcast: “Last time we saw each other, I was at your wedding where you had delicious food.
“I had halloumi bites at the fish and chip store and my Nando’s was delicious, I went for it.”
CHICKEN SHOPS ARE NOT THE ONLY FACING SHORTAGES
Trade group UK Hospitality said in July that supply chain problems were widespread, with around 60% members telling an industry survey they were seeing delays in deliveries, not receiving products or facing major price increases.
Many companies have been hit by a lack of drivers and operators in food processing centres. While new drivers struggled to train and qualify during spells of the pandemic, Britain has also been hit by an exodus of European drivers.
Dairy producer Arla has told supermarkets it would not be able to fulfill some of its orders and Ocado said it has been working with suppliers to fulfill its deliveries.
PUBS MAY ALSO FACE CLOSURES
Pubs are also likely to see the knock on effects of chicken shortages.
Although they are unlikely to close or stop serving food, menu staples such as chicken burgers and nuggets may suddenly become unavailable.
Food wholesaler Lynx Purchasing’s manufacturing director Rachel Dobson demand for chicken remains very high and the industry as a whole is struggling to cope with the dual challenges of the pingdemic and Brexit related staff shortages.
LUCKY LANCASHIRE
Nando’s fans in Lancashire are in luck – many of the region’s restaurants remain open.
As of the time of writing Blackpool, Preston and Blackburn remain open for business.
Meanwhile their neighbours and historical rivals over the Pennines in Yorkshire are facing shortages with shops only open for collect at sites in Harrogate, Leeds, Sheffield and Hull.
HAS THERE BEEN A CHICKEN SHORTAGE BEFORE?
Only last week, KFC suffered chicken shortages linked to similar supply problems.
The fast food chain warned customers some menu items would be unavailable due to food shortages following “weeks of disruption”.
A statement told fried chicken fans that “things may be a little different” in store and packaging might also be changed.
It was the second time KFC had faced supply issues, previously running out of chicken in 2018.
At the time, the chain sparked fury after closing more than 600 branches across the UK.
It blamed the shortage on problems with new delivery firm DHL.
WHERE HAS BEEN HIT BY NANDO’S CLOSURES?
Around 50 stores in England, Scotland and Wales have been closed.
There are no reported closures in Northern Ireland.
Major cities seem to be particularly badly hit in major cities with closures in places such as Glasgow, Manchester and several places in London.
CLOSURES HIT VEGANS TOO
Vegan Nando’s will be cursing their meat loving friends as the closures mean they can’t get their Peri-peri fix despite not being interested in chicken.
Last year, Nando’s introduced its vegan chicken burger called The Great Imitator made out of pea protein.
It is hoping to capitalise on the growing trend for more eco-conscious and cruelty free diets.
Nando’s has always had vegetarian items on the menu for THAT person in your friend group but now it is hoping to cater to a whole new market.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE SPARED CLOSURES
Chicken fans in Rushden Lakes, Kettering and Corby can breathe a sigh of relief that they are not affected by the mass chicken shortage facing the rest of the country.
But customers in Rushden Lakes and Corby cannot order delivery.
The closures are caused by shortages in the supply chain and the subsequent difficulty getting the chicken out to stores.
WHEN WILL NANDO’S REOPEN?
The South African chain – which currently operates around 400 restaurants in the UK – says it hopes to be back up and running normally on Saturday.
It blamed the “pingdemic” where staff are forced to self-isolate after being sent a ping alert by the NHS Covid tracking app for the temporary closure signs in windows across the country.
As of Monday people who have been fully vaccinated do not need to self-isolate – though people with a positive test must still do so.
CHICKEN SUPPLIER WARNED UK FACING “WORST FOOD SHORTAGES IN 75 YEARS”
The founder of 2 Sisters Food group – the country’s largest chicken supplier which supplies Nando’s – said the UK was facing its worst food shortages since the Second World War last month.
Raijit Singh Boparan said: “Since May this year the operating environment has deteriorated so proudly I can see no other outcome than major food shortages in the UK”,.
He said the Government was “sticking its head in the sand” and the pingdemic was not the issue for them.
Boparan said he did not understand why so many people were still on furlough while they were facing labour shortages and thought No 10 needed to change immigration rules so his industry had a pipeline to recruit people from the EU.
SHORTAGE SHINES A LIGHT ON FACTORY CONDITIONS
The shortages at chicken processing factories has highlighted the cramped conditions the birds are raised and slaughtered in.
According to animal welfare charity the RSPCA, over a billion chickens raised are raised for meat every year and of those 90% are raised too quickly.
The charity says chickens are often raised in bare, dirty and dark conditions with little room to “move around freely and perform natural behaviours like perching and preening”.
It ranks it among one of its top three animal welfare concerns in the UK.
WHERE HAS BEEN HIT BY NANDO’S CLOSURES?
Around 50 stores in England, Scotland and Wales have been closed.
There are no reported closures in Northern Ireland.
Major cities seem to be particularly badly hit in major cities with closures in places such as Glasgow, Manchester and several places in London.
POULTRY INDUSTRY SHARED CONCERNS WITH GOVERNMENT OVER STAFFING SHORTAGES
A poultry industry source told the PA news agency that warnings last month that EU worker rules and logistics issues would continue to hit food supply had not been heeded.
“We raised this issue with Government many weeks ago and nothing significant has happened since, so it is clearly not going away,” he said.
“We need new workers to come on board to cope with this demand, and while Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) have been helpful, the issue is with the Home Office.
“There are shortages fluctuating between 10% and 20% of staff, so we need some emergency changes get workers overseas who can fill this gap.”
NANDO’S IS DEPLOYING ITS OWN STAFF TO HELP WITH SHORTAGE
Nando’s says it is sending 70 of its own staff to help its supplies get chicken out after wholesalers said they have been hit hard by the “pingdemic” forcing employees to self-isolate.
It is unclear what jobs these staff members will be doing but the idea is that can help work at 2 Sisters Food, Moy Park and Avara get back to normal.
Thousands of workers are the country are being forced into self-isolation because they cannot work from home – leaving their bosses struggling to fulfill orders.
This has been made worse by delivery and haulage firms struggling to find and retain staff or get them across the Channel due to new immigration controls and border checks introduced after Brexit.
HOW TO FIND OUT WHETHER YOUR LOCAL NANDO’S IS CLOSED?
Nando’s has an you can use to find out where your nearest restaurant is.
On the top left hand side of it’s website, click on the “restaurants” tab, and a drop down menu will show.
Type in your postcode and you’ll be redirected to a page showing where your nearest Nando’s is.
You can scroll through to see which Nando’s is closed near you.
PRINCE HARRY LOVES A CHEEKY NANDO’S – BUT ROYAL FANS MIGHT BE LESS THAN IMPRESSED WITH HIS GO-TO ORDER
According to the , the Duke of Sussex was introduced to the South African chain several years ago by his personal protection officer.
The royal was spotted in the Fulham branch of the restaurant, picking up a £24.05 takeaway for two at around midnight back in 2013.
But it's Harry’s order that might surprise fans the most, opting for a chicken pitta with extra cheese with a lemon and herb flavour - the mildest of them all.
He also took away a side of creamy mashed potatoes, a double chicken wrap, chips and a couple of soft drinks.
HOW TO FIND OUT WHETHER YOUR LOCAL NANDO’S IS CLOSED?
Nando’s has an you can use to find out where your nearest restaurant is.
On the top left hand side of it’s website, click on the “restaurants” tab, and a drop down menu will show.
Type in your postcode and you’ll be redirected to a page showing where your nearest Nando’s is.
You can scroll through to see which Nando’s is closed near you.
HAS THERE BEEN A CHICKEN SHORTAGE BEFORE?
Only last week, KFC suffered chicken shortages linked to similar supply problems.
The fast food chain warned customers some menu items would be unavailable due to food shortages following “weeks of disruption”.
A statement told fried chicken fans that “things may be a little different” in store and packaging might also be changed.
It was the second time KFC had faced supply issues, previously running out of chicken in 2018.
At the time, the chain sparked fury after closing more than 600 branches across the UK.
It blamed the shortage on problems with new delivery firm DHL.
PUBS MAY ALSO FACE CLOSURES
Pubs are also likely to see the knock on effects of chicken shortages.
Although they are unlikely to close or stop serving food, menu staples such as chicken burgers and nuggets may suddenly become unavailable.
Food wholesaler Lynx Purchasing's manufacturing director Rachel Dobson demand for chicken remains very high and the industry as a whole is struggling to cope with the dual challenges of the pingdemic and Brexit related staff shortages.
CHICKEN SUPPLIER WARNED UK FACING "WORST FOOD SHORTAGES IN 75 YEARS"
The founder of a 2 Sisters Food group - the country's largest chicken supplier which is supplies Nando's - said the UK was facing its worst food shortages since the Second World War last month.
Raijit Singh Boparan said: "Since May this year the operating environment has deteriorated so proudly I can see no other outcome than major food shortages in the UK",.
He said the Government was "sticking its head in the sand" and the pingdemic was not the issue for them.
Boparan said he did not understand why so many people were still on furlough while they were facing labour shortages and thought No 10 needed to change immigration rules so his industry had a pipeline to recruit people from the EU.
CHICKEN SHOPS ARE NOT THE ONLY FACING SHORTAGES
Trade group UK Hospitality said in July that supply chain problems were widespread, with around 60% members telling an industry survey they were seeing delays in deliveries, not receiving products or facing major price increases.
Many companies have been hit by a lack of drivers and operators in food processing centres. While new drivers struggled to train and qualify during spells of the pandemic, Britain has also been hit by an exodus of European drivers.
Dairy producer Arla has told supermarkets it would not be able to fulfill some of its orders and Ocado said it has been working with suppliers to fulfill its deliveries.
SHORTAGES COME JUST A WEEK AFTER NANDO'S WERE OFFERING FREE CHICKEN TO A-LEVEL AND GCSE STUDENTS
Nando's holds a every year where they offer a free ¼ Chicken or Starter on offer to any students picking up results.
Nando’s postponed its annual summer results day celebrations last year due to the pandemic but threw open its doors last week to students marking the end of an intense school year.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE SPARED CLOSURES
Chicken fans in Rushden Lakes, Kettering and Corby can breathe a sigh of relief that they are not affected by the mass chicken shortage facing the rest of the country.
But customers in Rushden Lakes and Corby cannot order delivery.
The closures are caused by shortages in the supply chain and the subsequent difficulty getting the chicken out to stores.