PROGRAM CARD - Nando's PERi-Perks

Program name: Nando's PERi-Perks
Distinction: simple points scheme, free choice of reward
Brand / operator: Nando's Restaurant Group, Inc.
Family / owner: Nando's Group Holdings (private, South Africa)
Industry: gastronomy / QSR
Industry benchmark: no
Market: USA, Canada (excluding Quebec)
Related programs: Nando's Rewards (Nando's Card) - UK (separate program, member-benefit style)
Status: active
Legal / temporal status: no restrictions; laws of the State of Delaware (USA); program runs until revoked by the operator
Launch year: no public data (digital program in the UK since 2013; rebranded to a points-based system in the USA around Q1 2025)
Main type: points-based
Additional type: -
Enrollment cost: free
Channels: in-store (barcode scan in the restaurant), online (nandosperiperi.com website), mobile app (iOS/Android)
Reach: no public data (the figure of 300,000 members within 3 months refers to the UK, not the US)

Comparative parameters (estimated ratings)

Implementation difficulty (1-5): 3
Main KPI (impact strength): purchase frequency (medium)

Descriptive sections

0. Summary

Nando's PERi-Perks is a free points-based program operating in Nando's restaurants across the USA and Canada. Members earn 10 points for every dollar spent and redeem them for free menu items at five thresholds ranging from 500 to 5,000 points. Points expire after 180 days, and simply signing up earns the participant free garlic bread.

1. Objectives and context

The program aims to increase visit frequency and migrate customers to the brand's own ordering channels (app, website), excluding third-party platforms (e.g., DoorDash). It serves as a tool for building customer data and personalizing offers while simultaneously strengthening the sense of belonging to the brand.

2. Target audience

The program is aimed at adult residents of the USA and Canada (persons over 13 years old with parental consent) who regularly use Nando's restaurants - whether for dine-in orders, online, or via the app.

3. Architecture and type

Registration - free, via the app or website; email and phone number verification required; upon account confirmation: free garlic bread.
Points accrual - 10 pts for every dollar spent (item amount rounded up to the full dollar) on direct purchases (app, website, barcode scan in the restaurant); alcoholic beverages, gift cards, and charitable items are excluded.
Redemption - when the balance reaches a threshold of 500 / 1,000 / 1,500 / 2,500 / 5,000 pts, the participant unlocks a choice of a free item from the catalog available in the app and on the website; points cannot be combined with coupons, nor can cash be added to cover a more expensive perk.
Reward use - the perk is redeemed in the restaurant, via the app, or on the website; it is neither transferable nor redeemable for cash.

4. Earn & burn mechanics

Accrual: 10 pts per USD spent on qualifying items (amount rounded up, e.g., $12.95 → 130 pts); applies exclusively to purchases via the Nando's app, the Nando's website, or a barcode scan on-site; orders through third-party platforms are excluded.
Threshold and redemption: 500 pts → small snacks/sides (Naughty Nata, Garlic Sticks, large potatoes/rice/chips); 1,000 pts → sides and ¼ chicken or PERi-PERi sauce; 1,500 pts → wrap, sandwich, ½ chicken, or bowl; 2,500 pts → boneless chicken breast, PERi Rainbow Bowl, or Nandoca's Choice; 5,000 pts → whole chicken (Full Chicken Platter). The terms and conditions additionally list a 2,000 pts threshold, but the program website (as of June 2026) does not feature it - possibly a seasonal tier or one undergoing changes.
Reward forms: free menu items (food); no cashback or percentage discounts; additional benefits: birthday voucher for Nata (valid for 30 days during the birthday month, condition: an active transaction within 6 months before the birthday month), occasional invitations to events and tastings.
Points expiration: 180 days from last activity (rolling); after expiration, points are automatically removed, and the account remains active.

5. Emotional value

Nando's builds its brand identity around PERi-PERi culture - spicy, South African cheekiness. The program draws on this visual and narrative language: reward names (Naughty Nata, Nandoca's Choice), a colorful app, and occasional "hot" campaigns for loyal fans. The distinguished member status provides a sense of being part of a tribe, not just holding a discount card.

6. Gamification

Visual points-progress indicator in the app (approaching the next reward threshold)
Instant welcome reward (garlic bread for registration) - a quick-win effect
Birthday reward with a limited redemption window (30 days) - time pressure
Occasional bonus promotions with an increased points multiplier at selected restaurants

7. Differentiation

Compared to QSR competitors (e.g., McDonald's, Subway), Nando's emphasizes broad freedom of reward choice instead of a limited coupon catalog. The absence of status tiers simplifies the program but removes the aspiration mechanism. Making platform exit a condition for points accrual is a clear strategy for shifting traffic to the brand's own sales channels.

8. Data and personalization

Data collected: first name, last name, email, phone number, date of birth (day and month), purchase history, location (nearest restaurant)
Anonymized data used for marketing and profiling purposes
Personalization: offers tailored individually to purchasing preferences; not all members receive identical proposals
Data may be shared with external service providers and foreign affiliated companies (Overseas Recipients); the terms and conditions indicate Nando's limited liability for these entities' compliance with US/CA regulations

9. Technology

Nando's North America app (iOS and Android); supports ordering, barcode scanning, viewing the balance, and redeeming perks
The nandosperiperi.com website as a parallel channel with full program functionality
Unique barcode (QR/1D) linked to the account; option to retroactively add a receipt (up to 14 days, max. 3 receipts per day)
Loyalty platform provider: no public data (initial implementation by Red Badger - UK; US: no public data)

10. Communication and lifecycle

Channels: email (balance notifications, birthday vouchers, personalized offers), in-app push notifications
Onboarding: instant bonus (free garlic bread) after account verification; a simple 4-step message on the program website
Retention: personalized offers, reminders about expiring points (no public data on the specific procedure), event invitations for active members

11. Conclusion / inspiration for the almanac

PERi-Perks demonstrates that simplicity is an advantage: one conversion rate, clear thresholds, free choice of reward. The program deliberately confines itself to the ecosystem of the brand's own channels - a lesson in how earn mechanics can simultaneously be a tool for protecting margins and migrating to direct sales channels.

Sources: program website nandosperiperi.com/rewards; PERi-Perks terms and conditions (last revised 23.07.2025); stampme.com/blog/nandos-loyalty-program-success (June 2026); red-badger.com/our-work/nandos-loyalty-programme
Terms (link): https://www.nandosperiperi.com/terms-and-conditions-peri-perks
Entry compiled on: 2026-06-18

Nando's PERi-Perks