What a sauce! Nando's demands name change of one-man peri-peri firm

12 April 2012

A war over peri-peri sauce has broken out - with the weight of Nando's coming down on a one-man firm.

Ndinos Criticos has been threatened with legal action by the grilled chicken chain because of the "confusingly similar" name of his product.

Mr Criticos, 35, set up his peri-peri sauce company nine months ago in tribute to his parents who used to make the condiment when he was growing up in South Africa and who both died last year.

However, the name, Ndinos Original Peri-Peri Sauce, has fallen foul of lawyers acting for the restaurant group, who claim it is too close to Nando's and their children's menu range Nandino's.

In a letter to Mr Criticos, Nando's solicitors Bird & Bird said use of the name "constitutes trademark infringement" and threatened legal proceedings "to obtain an injunction, damages or an account of profits and recover its legal costs".

But Mr Criticos, who is of Greek Cypriot descent, said he would refuse to back down by tomorrow, the deadline set by Nando's.

He said: "I really can't believe it. This is the real Greek spelling of my name. I've got a right to trade under my own name, which is the name I was born with.

"If you look at the Nando's brand, they don't have a pepper in it, the font is completely different and mine is a lot bolder. I got a designer to do the work for me, it's all her own creation. Peri-peri sauce is what it is, it's the family recipe and it's been in the family a very, very long time. I'm going to fight them, it's an injustice."

Mr Criticos said he checked the name Ndinos Peri-Peri Ltd at Companies House and his application for a trademark was not blocked by the Intellectual Property Office.

The Neasden-based events organiser, who makes the sauce in his spare time, has started supplying specialist South African food shops in London and has already won a Great Taste Award from the Guild of Fine Food.

He makes the sauce in batches of 30 litres in a kitchen in Park Royal and sells it for £2.50 a bottle.

Georg Gruber, chief executive officer of global grocery at Nando's, said: "Mr Criticos has applied to register, as a trademark, the word Ndinos in red font with regards to peri-peri sauces and condiments.

"We have opposed this, as we feel it is too similar to our well-known registered trademarks Nando's and Nandino's and would confuse the public. We are awaiting a decision from the Intellectual Property Office."

Taste test: Two brands are peri-peri different

As A big Nando's sauce fan, I was convinced Ndinos would be a poor imitation. But I was wrong.
While the two brands clearly bear a likeness, their tastes are definitely distinct. The Ndinos sauce is thicker, and a more vibrant red colour, than its condiment counterpart.

Compared with the acidic taste of the Nando's brand, the Ndinos peri-peri sauce boasts a robust, tomato flavour and is far less tart.

It is not surprising, then, that the main ingredients in the Nando's version are vinegar and lemon, while its rival is made mostly of tomatoes. The Nando's condiment has copious amounts of chilli, its spiciness hitting you instantly even with the medium version. Ndinos's recipe is less fiery, but still packs tons of flavour and heat.

While the two brands may look "confusingly similar" on the outside, they taste anything but.

Emine Sinmaz

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