Case Study: Nando’s Bottomless Soft Serve Ice Cream
Introduction
Nando’s, renowned for its flame-grilled peri-peri chicken, has expanded its menu offerings to include a popular dessert choice: Bottomless Soft Serve Ice Cream, a move that happened this year from their traditional frozen yogurt offering. This case study explores how the introduction of the Spaceman T5B soft serve ice cream machine has enabled Nando’s Covent Garden to meet customer demand while maintaining profitability and efficiency.
The Customer Experience
According to Anna, Front of House Manager at Nando’s Covent Garden:
“Soft serve ice cream is something that has been enjoyed all year round. Even during the run-up to the holiday period, we are still seeing demand for up to 100 portions per day.
The offering has become a crowd-pleaser, appealing to customers across age groups. The bottomless nature of the dessert aligns with Nando’s fun and vibrant brand, enhancing the dining experience.
Operational Efficiency
Nando’s Covent Garden utilizes the Spaceman T5B Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine, selected for its high reliability and ease of maintenance.
Anna highlights that: “The machine has been highly reliable, and we are enjoying the minimal cleaning requirements.”
This reliability minimizes downtime and allows the team to focus on customer service, knowing the machine delivers consistent results.
Financial Success
The pricing and cost structure of the soft serve offering make it a significant contributor to revenue:
- Selling Price Per Portion: £3.25
- Cost Price Per Portion: £0.25
- Daily Portions Sold: 100
- Annual Profit Calculation:
- 100 portions per day ×£3.25 per portion ×365 days per year=£118,625100
- Subtracting costs: £118,625−(£0.25×100×365)=£109,500
- This simple yet highly profitable menu addition is a testament to the strategic placement of the Spaceman T5B in Nando’s operations.
A Word from Blue Ice Machines
Mindy Rubin, Founder and Director of Blue Ice Machines, comments:
“Our partnerships with distributors are going strong, and with the hard work and dedication, we have now placed over 100 ice cream machines in Nando’s restaurants across the country.
This collaboration ensures Nando’s can rely on cutting-edge equipment and excellent support, allowing locations like Covent Garden to meet high customer demand with confidence.”