Bringing a little something extra to the table, Nando’s has teamed up with Arsenal and England forward, Bukayo Saka, to create PERi-PERi Saka – the restaurant’s first-ever sauce collaboration.
This is probably not a collaboration that you saw coming, but it makes sense if you stop and think about it, given Bukayo Saka’s nickname of ‘Little Chilli’. But more than that, Nando’s and Saka have a relationship that goes back a bit, with the winger having starred in past TV ads and with the restaurant chain having hosted Saka’s dad’s birthday party in the past. And so they team up for what is a brand-new sauce in Nando's starting line-up. The limited-edition sauce combines the Starboy’s favourite flavours with Nando's legendary PERi-PERi; it’s sweet and fiery with a little extra kick, made with tomato, garlic and smoked paprika. Coming in at Medium on the famous PERi-ometer, it’s a definite crowd-pleaser.
“The sauce mixes sweet, spiciness and smokiness,” says Saka. “I love it and can’t wait for everyone to try it. I’ve been going to Nando’s since I was little so to have my own PERi-PERi sauce in every restaurant in the country is quite mad! My family’s really important to me so I wanted to make sure they liked it, too. As soon as my Dad said he was a fan, I knew it was the one.”
And it doesn’t stop with the sauce either – the bottle is a feast for the eyes, too. Nando's brought in artist Reuben Dangoor to create the design. Known for his unique take on the adidas Predator, his viral illustration of Gareth Southgate, designing Beckham's kit for FIFA 22 and the artwork wrapping the Emirates stadium, it was a saucy signing for the project. It’s the first time Nando’s has collaborated with an artist on its restaurant sauce bottles, and shows the brands continued commitment to championing art and design in its restaurants in an exciting new format.
To celebrate the launch, Saka stepped in the kitchen to fire up a team of chefs to bring his creation to life, an homage to the high-intensity kitchen setting of hit TV show The Bear.
PERi-PERi Saka is available at all restaurants across the UK and Ireland for a limited time – find it at the sauce station.