Nando’s hopes to reopen restaurants from Saturday after supply chain 'disruption'

Nando’s is hoping to have all its restaurants open and trading again from Saturday after a shortage of ingredients forced a number of its restaurants to close earlier this week.

Some restaurants closed to restock while others were forced to run a limited service due to team members self-isolating. The group sent 70 of its team members to help short-staffed suppliers.

A Nando’s spokesperson said: “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 deployed to support some of 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 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.”

Last week KFC UK warned customers that some menu items may not be available due to "disruption".

The group did not specify the cause of the issue, but businesses have faced staff shortages due to team members being told to self-isolate by the NHS Test and Trace app, while a nationwide shortage of delivery drivers has seen wholesalers warn of delays in the supply chain.

Last month hospitality operators told The Caterer that they were struggling with price rises and last-minute changes to delivery times, while some foodservice suppliers told customers, including schools, they would be unable to fulfil orders.

The government has relaxed limits on lorry drivers' working hours in a bid to tackle the issue, though the Road Haulage Association (RHA) criticised the measure as a "sticking plaster" that failed to address the shortfall of drivers.

Photo: Shutterstock / Willy Barton