MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Nando’s is mobilizing its resources and workforce to feed the community, nourish frontline healthcare workers and support its 1,100-person Canadian workforce and their families.
The chain, known for its Peri-Peri chicken, will continue to offer takeout and delivery in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta for as long as possible. There will be exceptions for any jurisdiction that orders restaurants to close altogether.
“We want the communities we serve to know that Nando’s is here for you. And we’re here for our employees and our communities that we have always proudly called our family,” says Desmond Edwards, VP Marketing, Nando’s Canada.
As part of Nando’s commitment to ‘staying open safely,’ it is strictly enforcing social distancing for employees and customers. The company will allow a maximum of 10 employees and customers per restaurant at any given time and will constantly enforce elevated hygiene. All Nando’s employees must continue to frequently wash hands, clean all surfaces and stay home when feeling ill. Nando’s will continue to do health checks at the beginning and end of each shift and leave to-go orders at the front of its stores.
Nando’s North America is simultaneously announcing the largest community-service program in its history, supported by its Canadian and U.S. workforce.
Starting March 26, Nando’s pledges to:
• Bring free, hot catered meals to hospitals near every Nando’s in North America, to provide comfort and sustenance to the nurses, doctors and hospitals workers
• Provide free Nando’s takeout to any nurse, doctor or healthcare worker who shows up at a Nando’s in uniform or with a valid healthcare ID, or calls to place a to-go order and presents ID at collection
• Create a new employee-volunteer force. Employees will be paid to deploy their services to help others in the immediate communities in which we operate
• Allocate 50 free meals per day per restaurant for laid-off members of the restaurant industry.
• Donate all surplus food, packaged and non-expired, to local area food banks.
• Provide free family meals for our employees’ families in need.
• Pay it forward. Any customer or employee can pay the gift of a family meal forward to the neediest members of their community. Customers will be encouraged to buy a meal for a laid-off industry worker or medical personnel.
“At Nando’s, we don’t just serve chicken, we serve the community. We’re all in this together,” Edwards says.
