A Nando’s Story: Its the People who make the Chicken

Meet Roz Rhoades , a true people leader with a long history with Nando’s! Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Roz's journey to Nando's started with a leap of faith when she moved to the UK at 18 years of age. With eight years of hospitality experience under her belt, Roz joined Nando's UK in August 2010. Roz says ”I attended an assessment day with Nando’s and the rest is history! I knew I had found my place.”

Starting as an Assistant Manager, she was promoted to Restaurant Manager within six months and eventually became a Nando’s Partner and Mentor. During her time at Nando’s UK, she worked in several sites and met, trained and mentored many “Nandoca’s” through the business.

After 20 years in the UK, Roz made another bold decision and decided to move to Australia in 2017. Nando’s sponsored her visa to come across and she joined the Nando’s ANZ team for her new chapter. Roz says: “The amount of trust Nando’s ANZ brand had in my ability, to sponsor me to join the family in Australia. This is huge for me.“ ?In Australia, she was promoted to Area Manager and also recently became a Partner for the ANZ region. ?Winning the internal “Life and Soul” Award in 2020 is another key achievement that stands out in her career.

Nando's has profoundly impacted Roz's life, emphasizing the company's commitment to its people and work-life balance. She recounts: “I love how everyone is welcome at our table. The fact that as a company we are so conscious of the impact we make, not only with our employees, but the communities that support us. How we consciously try and Change Lives Together. The fact that as a business we might be spread out across various continents, but we all understand each other, speak the same Nando’s language you could say, and are linked by our Values and Culture.”

Roz believes that, as an employer, Nando's sets itself apart by genuinely caring for its people. The slogan "It’s the people that make the chicken" is not just a phrase but reality. ?“Nando’s truly is all about it’s people. Coming from a very fast paced environment, work life balance is truly front and center. Nando’s has been a huge support to me during three major Life changing moments for me during my time working for them, and on each occasion, they have shown up and truly lived up to our core Values and name.” Nando's invests heavily in training and development, equipping employees with valuable skills applicable even outside the industry.

The culture in Roz's restaurants is vibrant and slightly competitive. The team goes the extra mile to support each other and the broader regional team, fostering an environment where everyone is encouraged to succeed and grow. As a leader, Roz is fair, supportive, and always ready to jump in wherever needed. She is committed to empowering and upskilling her team, driven by their growth and success. Roz ensures work is fun for her and her team, whether it's a Friday night Restaurant Takeover or a serious meeting. She injects fun into tasks with activities like "Heads Up" or Trivia and keeps the room stocked with treats, earning her the title of Queen of snacks.

Wrapping it up, we asked Roz about her go-to Nando's order. Her response? A 1/4 chicken BBQ and hot, sometimes mixed, with a garden salad and a Berry Rubro. And at least once a week, she indulges in a bowl of plain chicken salt chips – the chicken salt is the winner for her!

From Zimbabwe, via the UK to Australia – Roz journey speaks of true passion to the business and the people she works with. After all, “It’s the people who make the chicken”.