Nando’s leans on design edge to win drive-thru site race

The chain targets premium locations beyond traditional QSR clusters.

Nando's Australia Pty. Ltd. is relying on bespoke restaurant design to secure scarce drive-thru sites as competition for prime locations intensifies across the quick-service restaurant (QSR) sector.

Scott Hamilton, chief development officer at the QSR known for its peri-peri flame-grilled chicken, said there was a time when landlords had to choose from four or five brands. “Now they have 14 to 15 brands to choose from,” he told QSR Media.

He said landlords are increasingly using store design impact as a key factor in tenant selection, with Nando’s positioning its outlets as visual anchors for retail precincts.

“We're finding a lot of landlords see our offer as a really good way to anchor a precinct, a really good showstopper,” he said via teleconference.

The chain features African-inspired interiors, handmade furnishings, and original artwork, supported by a curated Afro-Luso soundtrack.

Hamilton said the design approach often exceeds landlord fit-out requirements and has boosted its pitch during site negotiations.

He said rising competition for drive-thru sites is also reshaping the market, with landlords able to curate more diverse tenant mixes and develop dining precinct formats beyond traditional fast-food clusters.

Hamilton said the expansion of quality casual dining brands is broadening the overall addressable market rather than simply intensifying competition for existing demand.

Beyond drive-thru and shopping centres, Nando’s is targeting central business districts to capture lunchtime traffic and evening dining occasions.

The brand is also exploring entertainment and leisure precincts, where demand is shifting toward premium dining options linked to weekend social activities.