Nando's September 2019

– N O I T A M O T U A BEYOND D N I H E B M A E T THE Y G O L O N H C E T THE

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NANDO’S: – N IO T A M O T U A BEYOND D IN H E B M A E T E H T Y G O L O N H C E T E TH WR ITT EN BY

SO PH IE CH AP M AN PR OD UC ED BY

CH AR LO TT E CL AR KE

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NANDO’S

AS NANDO’S ADOPTS NEW INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO ENSURE ITS SUPPLY CHAIN OPERATIONS ARE NIMBLE IN LINE WITH ITS GROWTH, THE HEAD OF SUPPLY CHAIN ALSO HAS A STRONG FOCUS ON PEOPLE TO ENSURE THE TEAM IS UPSKILLED, ENGAGED AND ARE THE FOCAL POINT BEHIND AUTOMATION

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ando’s was built on the solid foundations of family, integrity, pride, passion and courage. When Deon Pillay, Head of

Supply Chain – Nando’s Grocery International, joined the company in 2014, he was also introduced to the motto “Have fun and make money” – in that order. In 2016, Pillay become Nando’s Head of Supply Chain, and has always endeavoured to ensure this motto is included in everything he does, and is passed on to his team and to business partners.

“My role has evolved over the time I have been at Nando’s – it has been the most exciting evolution I have ever experienced. I started in the role of Logistics Manager, handling export shipments out of South Africa with one person in my team.

Today, in my role, I look after the wider supply chain which is strongly focused on four primary and overarching areas: Global Production,

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New Product Development, Operations & Integrated Business Planning,

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“ THE SUPPLY CHAIN AND PROCUREMENT ROLES HAVE BEEN EDGING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO CENTRE STAGE – MOVING CLOSER TO TAKING THEIR RIGHTFUL PL ACE ON THE BUSINESS PODIUM” — Deon Pillay, Head of Supply Chain, Nando’s

and Product Integrity.” Despite being only nine members strong, the grocery supply chain team manages a huge portfolio of products and activities that it is incredibly proud of. “I am often guilty of making some ridiculous asks of my team and pushing them well beyond their perceived limits. Fortunately, (I believe) this has helped grow them even more than just playing safe in any comfort zone would,” adds Pillay.

As supply chain and procurement operations gain momentum across a range of industries globally, no longer being viewed as back-office functions, their role at Nando’s is changing too.

“The supply chain and procurement roles have been edging closer and closer to centre stage – moving closer to taking their rightful place on the mainstream business podium.

We are continuing to integrate across all functions to bring business equilibrium to an ever-turbulent commercial world,” he says. Pillay is still concerned that supply chain does not always receive the appropriate recognition it deserves:

CLICK TO WATCH : ‘WHITEBOARD ANIMATION: THE NANDO’S SUPPLY CHAIN STORY’ 07 “We are fortunate that at Nando’s the

“Even as a young, small team

supply chain is seen as a critical cog

we have achieved so much,” Pillay

in the company’s well-oiled machine.

notes. “The team has managed

When I joined, supply chain – or rather

to be so nimble to adapt and react

logistics – was viewed as a peripheral

to changes in our ecosystem, both

and basic function that got containers

macro and micro. We have moved

out the door. It was a functional depart-

entire production capabilities and

ment tasked with handling order adminis-

expertise across continents, we have

tration,” he adds. Since then the business

researched, developed and imple-

has seen steady growth and the supply

mented new packaging substrates

chain operations have transitioned to

and formats at break-neck speeds

a key business discipline consisting

without compromising quality whilst

of order administration and customer

staying current and abreast of

supply, logistics, packaging development,

regulations and the happenings

regulatory, compliance and food integrity.

in the industry.” w w w w.na ndo s . co. u k

By using digital as a catalyst to handle growth, Nando’s is able to achieve more without being resource-heavy, as well as becoming more time efficient.

TION “ DIGITAL TRANSFORMA RA WILL HERALD A NEW E FOR US – WITH THE E BUSINESS GROWTH W HAVE EXPERIENCED IT WOULD BE COUNTERLY PRODUCTIVE TO MERE THROW BODIES AT THE ” INCREASE IN ACTIVITY — Deon Pillay, Head of Supply Chain, Nando’s

“It allows the team to free up their time spent doing the mundane activities and focus on the value adding actions,” Pillay notes. “This has been particularly refreshing for our supply chain – so much so that we were able to extract superfluous costs out of our value chain and bring immense, sustainable value to our processes and continue to deliver these cost-saving efficiencies to the business.

“I quite often say to my team that technology is not the future, but

With supply chain having significant

technology is now,” enthuses Pillay.

touch points to every part of the business

Nando’s endeavours to be a strong

and fully integrating into all Nando’s

player in the fields of Internet of Things

functions, the department is firmly on

(IoT), Robotic Process Automation

its way through its digital transforma-

(RPA) and Blockchain. Crucial to

tion journey. “Digital transformation

transparency and efficiency, these

will herald a new era for us – with the

technologies have caught the attention

business growth we have experienced

of the firm. But it is also important for

it would be counter-productive to

Nando’s that these initiatives are fit

merely throw bodies at the increase

for purpose for their business. The

in activity. We commenced our technol-

company is looking to introduce RPA

ogy journey a year and a half ago and

to reduce the time associated with

it has already yielded benefits.”

repetitive tasks – Nando’s made w w w w.na ndo s . co. u k

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previous attempts to integrate electronic data interchange (EDI) services to tackle these issues, but found RPA more adaptable and impactful with a quicker implementation timeline. “With more focus on creating transparency in the supply chain, I firmly believe every professional in the sector will need to step up to technology or get left behind. Once you see it in action you get inspired as to how supply chain digitalisation is such a real and relatively easy win for any company,” he adds.

“ WITH MORE FOCUS ON CREATING TRANSPARE NCY IN SUPPLY CHAIN, I FIRMLY BELIEVE EVE RY PROFESSIONAL IN THE SECTOR WILL NEED TO STEP UP TO TECHNOLO GY OR GET LEFT BEHIND” — Deon Pillay, Head of Supply Chain, Nando’s

In December 2016, Nando’s transitioned to a new enterprise resource planning (ERP). “Our new ERP added the next layer of value to our business by providing easy access to information and allowing the team to plan and perform better. We are at the stage now where we are engaging with our partners to unlock their next level of value by developing the current workspaces or opening up new ones,” says Pillay. He remarks upon the resilience of his team for dealing with any changes introduced to their operations: “They have an incomparable drive, discipline and enquiring mind w w w w.na ndo s . co. u k

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which compliments my management

to streamline operations. “The team

style. The team have embraced all

took on more commercially functional

the changes and take continuous

roles which played an important part

improvement firmly in their stride.

in reprioritisation as well as shifting

“To adapt a Nando’s adage that

the focus to a more strategic mindset

‘it is the people behind the chicken’,

and way of thinking,” explains Pillay.

I firmly believe it is the team behind

Following the change, more focus

the processes, and more recently

was placed on planning, action-oriented

behind the technology. Technology

meetings and partner engagement.

is only as good as the team that are

“The people part is what most compa-

firmly rooted behind it and that support

nies neglect or omit, which leads

it. The supply chain team at Nando’s

to inappropriate processes that do

recently took a decision to reengineer

not support the technology in place.”

it’s supply chain portfolios in order

As well as its focus on technology

as a driver to handle growth, Nando’s

the talk on this purpose and has

recognises the importance of sustain-

already delivered on several initiatives

ability. Pillay remarks that the team is

to prove it. “The humbling part

dedicated to ensuring a decrease in

of Nando’s purpose for me is that

carbon emissions and the incorpora-

Nando’s chooses not to publicise

tion of recyclability and recycled

these initiatives, which shows genuine

materials. Currently, Nando’s retail

heart to live the purpose.”

products’ packaging is 99.3%

Pillay has also undertaken his own,

recyclable, with the goal to raise the

personal project. With his passion for

figure to 100% well underway. Nando’s

his job so apparent, he wants to encour-

has also adopted ‘Changing Lives…

age younger generations to join the

Together’ as its company-wide purpose

industry: “I want to make supply chain

statement. The business really walks

a profession of choice for school 13

E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE

Deon Pillay Deon is the Head of Supply Chain at Nando’s. A very experienced, dynamic leader, he is able to engage and develop highly motivated teams to achieve sustained company growth and profitability. An energetic visionary with a proven history of delivering excellence across the enterprise, Pillay as regarded as a consummate professional by his peers for consistently exceeding expectations in supply chain for more than 20 years, spanning from senior strategic roles in the FMCG, Electronics, Telecommunications, Paper & Pulp, Food & Beverage and Management Consulting. Innovation and ‘disruption’ in problem solving is his driving force, but developing leaders is his true passion. w w w w.na ndo s . co. u k

NANDO’S

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35,000+ Grocery stores that globally sell the bottled sauce

1987

Year founded

1,440

Farmers growing chillies for PERi-PERi sauce

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NANDO’S

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leavers. Many people merely wash up on the shores of supply chain, but I want to make sure school leavers buy a ticket to board the supply chain luxury cruise. I want them to under-

“ DEON, FOR ME PERSONALLY, HAS ALWAYS BEEN NIST A FANTASTIC SOLUTIO GUY…THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS, ONLY SOLUTIONS…WE CAN !!

ALWAYS MAKE A PL AN ERE AND I, LOVE THAT… TH AS IS ALWAYS A WAY… IT H E TO BE RIGHT, IT HAS TH BE THE NANDO’S WAY… ND BUT BEING POSITIVE A O INSPIRED IS THE WAY T …

MAKE THINGS HAPPEN BEING PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT THE PROBLEM! LOVE HIM!!”

— Robbie Brozin, Founder of Nandos

stand from the beginning what they are subscribing to, and more importantly be excited to get on board when they learn how magnanimous supply chain can be. The supply chain professional has just as much, if not more, commercial leverage within business than any other C-suite executive. The personal project I have embarked on will see complete integration of the supply chain fraternity, making talent enrichment a priority for business through a collaborative network of professionals. I’m very excited about this.”

As the proliferation of technology adoption in the supply chain sector continues, Nando’s is keen to be a key player. In food supply chains, digitalising is an absolute must to enhance the way activities are processed and executed. Getting partner buy-in is not always easy, but is always a real bonus. “Our partner companies have their own strategy on where to take their automation, but we have been w w w w.na ndo s . co. u k

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fortunate to partner with companies who understand our needs as well, even though they themselves may not be ready for it in their own businesses,” Pillay explains. “In some cases, we have had our partners learn from us and implement our processes into their business; we have supported and assisted them in doing this as part of our partner engagement and development programme.

“Forming relationships and connections between partners through digital 18

platforms is high up on our agenda.

Supply chain technologies are evolving at a rapid rate and the important thing is to think of the big picture, start relatively small but try and scale up as quickly as possible. Integrated platforms allow for real time-data sharing and live updates. If you are not working towards building relationships in digital space, your reaction time to new information will slowly but surely take longer than your competitors who are becoming increasingly focused on this. Again, I cannot emphasis enough that people are more important that the technology you implement.”

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NANDO’S

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“The future is bright for the business, but we will have to face the usual industry challenges with the added complexity

“ NEVER LET THE FEAR OF STRIKING OUT PREVENT YOU FROM STEPPING UP TO THE PL ATE” — Deon Pillay, Head of Supply Chain, Nando’s

of our involvement in over 30 countries.

Product integrity, which is a Nando’s supply chain responsibility, continues to be firmly under our watchful eye – we want the best product with the best ingredients. We always want the best for our consumers. To achieve this, it is important we have transparency and traceability from farm to fork.” Whilst upgrading its digital offerings to ensure these challenges are met, Nando’s will never sacrifice product integrity in any way. Pillay still maintains the most important part of achieving all of this is an engaged team. We also have part of the supply chain team that is based in South Africa, the spiritual home of Nando’s. Being 10,000km away, or anywhere in the world, is not

Based in South Africa. Left to right: Robert Du Preez, Alpheus Muchini & Jesse Thaver

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a challenge anymore with technology but there is always a vested interest by all of us to make these Nandocas feel inclusive in everything we do. Again signifying the importance of people even if they are not physically in sight.

Giving an engaged team the leverage, trust and respect to act on their own and try things they can justify is key to innovation and controlled disruption. And he encourages his team to take a page from Babe Ruth who said, ‘Never let the fear of striking out, prevent you for stepping up to the plate’. Apt words from the Nando’s grocery supply chain team, which has, and continues to have, successes

Left to right: Catarina Nascimento, Deon Pillay, Laura Bacon, Eliza Hall, Gareth Griffith-Swain & Nick Gundersen

of hitting many out the park!

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www.nandos.co.uk