Nando’s full-year sales climb 8% to £1.48bn but warns on impact of cost pressures, to open 14 new restaurants this financial year: Nando’s has reported stronger sales and profits for the 12 months to 23 February 2025 but warned increased cost pressures would impact its current financial year. The company said its revenues lifted by 8% to £1.48bn for the year to 23 February 2025, up from £1.36bn in 2024, as “strong customer demand” helped drive an increase in sales volumes. Meanwhile, its operating profits more than doubled to £146.6m for the year from £59.8m, boosted by stronger sales and a one-off receipt. However, it said increased cost pressures, following the tax and wage increases in April, will affect its performance for the current financial year. The business also said it is accelerating its UK restaurant openings and is set to open 14 new restaurants in its current financial year, to the end of February 2026. The company’s expansion programme, which includes a number of sites which have already launched, comes after the business opened 12 UK sites in its previous financial year. The new restaurants include sites in Bedford, Derby, Sheffield, Paddington and Liverpool Edge Lane. Nando’s said it is aiming to open five more before the end of February 2026. The group said it is seeking to increase the number of company-owned restaurants and expand its wider international footprint. The business also said it has seen sales grow over the half-year to August and that it has been “encouraged by customer demand”. It said it has been seeking to manage increased cost pressures through productivity improvements and measures such as rolling out energy efficient grills in the UK and Ireland to reduce energy costs. It said: “While these actions have been effective in mitigating some of the impact, we anticipate that cost pressures will continue to affect our overall performance in the current financial year.” Rob Papps, group chief executive of Nando’s, said: “The 2025 financial year saw Nando’s continue to deliver a strong sales performance driven by robust consumer demand for our flame-grilled peri-peri chicken supported by our strong brand and customer proposition. The macro-economic outlook for the financial year ending February 2026 remains uncertain, however we see significant growth potential in all our markets and are continuing to invest for the future, with further menu innovation, enhancements to our digital capabilities and new restaurant openings planned in all our markets, including 14 in the UK.” Last week, Propel reported that Nando’s had secured the site for a new restaurant in Swansea, south Wales. It has signed a 15-year lease on Unit 3 at the M Parc Fforestfach retail park, taking a taking 3,945 square-foot space. Fit-out works are set to begin shortly ahead of an opening planned for early 2026 creating more than 40 jobs. Nando’s features in the Premium Club Turnover & Profits Blue Book, the latest edition of which was sent to Premium Club subscribers on Friday (15 November) and features 1,182 companies. Nando’s turnover of £1.48bn is the tenth highest in the database. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £995 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £495 plus VAT for operators and £595 plus VAT for suppliers. Email kai.kirkman@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.

Hollywood Bowl CFO Laurence Keen to lead Canadian business: Hollywood Bowl Group, the UK’s largest ten-pin bowling operator, has announced that after 12 years as the company’s chief financial officer, Laurence Keen is to become chief executive of its Canadian business. Keen had informed the company that he would like to explore the opportunity for a more operational role and step down from the board. At the same time, Antony Smith will join the board and leadership team as group chief financial officer on 2 February 2026. Keen will take on the newly created role of chief executive Canada, to help accelerate the group's growth strategy and support the development of the existing management team in Canada. The role will be for an initial fixed term to the end of October 2026 and will report into the group chief executive. As recently outlined to investors and analysts at the “Canadian Opportunity” event on 3 November 2025, the group continues to drive strong returns through ongoing investment in its centres and the expansion of its estate in prime locations in Canada and has an exciting pipeline of new centres. Keen will move to his new role based in Canada, following the effective transition of his responsibilities to Smith, and accordingly, will not stand for re-election to the board at its annual general meeting in January 2026. The company said the appointment of Smith brings significant expertise to the group with his extensive experience in multi-site and consumer businesses. He recently spent five years as chief financial officer of Ten Entertainment Group, the UK's second largest ten pin bowling operator. Prior to that, he spent five years as divisional finance director of Wickes, under the ownership of Travis Perkins. Most recently, he has been chief financial officer of River Island, the multi-channel fashion brand and retailer, overseeing a strategic review. Stephen Burns, chief executive of Hollywood Bowl Group, said: “I'd like to thank Laurence for the immense contribution he has made during his 12-year tenure as chief financial officer. He has played a major role in shaping Hollywood Bowl's strategy and the 70% growth of the group estate since our IPO in 2016. I am looking forward to continuing to work closely with him on the group's growth strategy in our Canadian business. Following a thorough selection process, I am delighted to welcome Antony to Hollywood Bowl Group. He will complement our strong leadership team, and I look forward to him joining the board in February 2026. He brings a wealth of highly relevant sector and market experience and a proven track record in leading finance teams and managing capital programmes, which will support the delivery of our growth strategy.”