Dive Brief:
- Nando’s Restaurant Group has appointed Kimberly Grant CEO of its North American division, according to a Tuesday LinkedIn post.
- She succeeds Josh Fisher, who had worked for the chain since 2017, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.
- Grant has nearly 30 years of hospitality and restaurant experience and spent two decades at Ruby Tuesday, where she rose to president and COO, according to her LinkedIn profile. She left Ruby Tuesday in 2013 and later led José Andrés Group as CEO from 2014 to 2020.
Dive Insight:
Grant joins Nando’s Peri-Peri during a growth period.,The chain is expanding its Texas presence, with new openings expected in Houston this year, and also opened new locations in Atlanta in 2024.
The chain has over 1,200 restaurants across 21 countries and has U.S. locations in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, Georgia and Texas, Grant said in her post. There are 47 company-owned Nando’s restaurants in the U.S., according to its website.
“I could not be more excited to lead the refinement of Nando's overseas business model and further develop its expansion efforts in the fastest growing, most vibrant sector of our industry,” Grant said.
The South Africa-based fast casual chain offers chicken platters, wraps, salads and bowls spiced to the customer’s preference. The chain’s locations are typically around 3,000 to 3,500 square feet.
Grant currently serves as board director for Performance Food Group and L. Catterton, according to her LinkedIn profile. From 2020 to 2023, she was global head of restaurants and bars for Four Season Hotels and Resorts.
Nando's could not be reached to comment on this appointment.
