Working with Power Brands
A massive congratulations to all the winners at last night’s Peach 20/20 Hero and Icon Awards. Nando’s won the Power Brand Award for the second year in a row. Twelve of the winners were selected by peers, while two—Power Brand and Consumer Choice—were based on guest ratings measured by CGA by NIQ’s BrandTrack survey. This makes the Nando’s award even more special as it was voted for by their customers.
I have been photographing for Nando’s for nearly nine years and recognise the “power” of the Peri-Peri chilli in everything that they do. Earlier in the year I photographed the newly refurbished firecracker of a restaurant at Mermaid Quay in Cardiff, as designed by Harrison. With a total of 98 covers this is not one of the largest Nando’s restaurants, but it does pack a power punch with its design. The restaurant is dominated by the vogl ceiling design in a black and white pattern with LED tape washing the side profile of the undulating raft. On one side of the restaurant is a trowelled concrete render with multiple rebar imprints, and on the other side a timber block finish. Both are scattered with Nando’s original African art.
The ceiling pattern is echoed down the centre of the restaurant with the custom hand painted floor tiles, whilst on the two sides are rich wide plank European Oak timber flooring.
There is a mixture of handblown glass pendants, DSW wall lights, Portal black beaded light by Modern Gesture, and atmospheric spots. The layout has been cleverly designed to include long party tables with marble centre details, and single tables that can be configured for any number of people.
The Peach 20/20 Hero & Icon Awards recognise and celebrate the best the hospitality industry has to offer – the leadership, creativity, inventiveness, agility, and commitment to quality of both companies and individuals.