SIZZLING griller Macey Lawton from Nando’s Warrington has been crowned Nando’s Best Griller in the UK and Ireland and will now go on to the International Grillers’ Challenge in Botswana.
Macey from Nando’s, Golden Square took the crown in a hotly contested final that took place in Nando’s Birmingham New Street restaurant.
Nando’s Grillers’ Challenge is an international competition that takes place every year. It celebrates and tests the skill and passion behind Nando’s famous PERi-PERi chicken. Each country, which has a Nando’s restaurant, whittles down their very best Grillers and one from each country goes head to head to battle it out in a Global Final, this year taking place in Botswana. A showdown to end all showdowns.
Kieran Penhallow from the Watford High Street restaurant came in 2nd place, and Bailey Coltham from Chatham came 3rd place. They will join Macey in Nando’s International Grillers’ Challenge in Botswana later this year.
Macey said: “I cannot believe I won! To say the competition was tough, would be an understatement, congratulates to the runners up – Kieran and Bailey. The Grillers’ Challenge has been an incredible experience and I have met so many amazing people during the competition. I joined Nando’s two years ago and never dreamt that I would be representing my country on a global stage, whilst cooking delicious chicken. That’s just one of the amazing things about Nando’s, a job here can give you so many opportunities, some that you never expected!”
The UK and Ireland leg of the competition has involved over 480 restaurant heats, 30 quarter-final heats and 6 semi-finals to reach the ultimate UK final. It’s so much more than a cook-off, each electrifying round tests the Griller’s technical skill, passion and knowledge of what makes the tastiest PERi-PERi chicken.
Garry Duncan, Operations Director for the UK and Ireland, said: “Huge Congratulations to Macey. Winning the competition is a big achievement and is thoroughly deserved. Macey demonstrated heaps of passion, remarkable skill and unwavering nerve as she grilled her way through each round. I am proud that she is now going to represent UK and Ireland in the Global Grillers’ Challenge in Botswana later this year.
“The Grillers’ Challenge is so much more than a competition. It celebrates what make’s Nando’s unique and puts our famous PERi-PERi chicken in the spotlight whilst honouring our Southern African roots. This competition also gives us an opportunity to celebrate the amazing talent within our teams on a global stage, whilst igniting ambition and broadening horizons.”
Macey together with the runners up, Kieran and Bailey, will represent UK and Ireland in Nando’s International Grillers’ Challenge Final in Botswana, later this year. They will cook off against the winners of the other country finals, in the ultimate showdown in the search for the best Nando’s Griller in the world.
