South Africans have another reason to gather around the table this festive season, with Nando’s joining forces with Springbok captain Siya Kolisi to introduce a limited-edition sauce inspired by the rugby star’s favourite flavours.
Unveiled on 31 October 2026 at the opening of Nando’s new bespoke restaurant in Stellenbosch, the Siya Sauce brings together garlic, citrus notes and a gentle smoky finish, as reported on by BizCommunity.
The collaboration will be available free of charge at Nando’s restaurants nationwide from 3 November, while stocks last.
But beyond adding another flavour to its offering, the partnership brings together several elements of South African popular culture, including rugby, local creativity, friendship and the country’s well-established love for sharing a meal.
Celebrity collaborations are nothing new in the marketing world, but Nando’s appears to have taken a slightly different approach with the Siya Sauce.
Rather than simply placing Kolisi’s name and face on a product, the restaurant brand has built a campaign around his personality, personal relationships and favourite flavours.
Kolisi was involved in developing the sauce, bringing his own taste preferences into the creation process.
The accompanying campaign also features people from his wider circle, including comedian Siv Ngesi, Sobantu Nqayi, Ray Malo, Vafa Naraghi, Nina Hastie, Jam Jam and Anton Taylor.
Their involvement gives the campaign a relaxed, familiar feel, moving away from the traditional sporting endorsement towards something that resembles friends enjoying food and each other’s company.
It is an approach that makes sense for Nando’s, a brand that has long positioned food as part of a wider social experience.
For consumers, the appeal is not only the association with a well-known rugby captain but also the familiarity of friendship, humour and shared experiences.
Another interesting contribution comes from Pretoria-based illustrator Mpho Boshoga, whose artwork gives the Siya Sauce bottle its distinctive visual identity.
His involvement adds another creative dimension to the collaboration, ensuring that the project extends beyond the sporting and entertainment industries.
Nando’s has a longstanding relationship with South African creative talent, and this latest project continues that connection by placing a local illustrator’s work on a product with nationwide exposure.
The partnership brings together different contributors, each offering something distinct.
Kolisi brings his sporting influence and cultural appeal, Boshoga contributes the visual identity, while the campaign’s supporting cast adds personality and entertainment.
Nando’s, meanwhile, provides the established brand and national restaurant network to bring the collaboration directly to customers.
It is a reminder that successful brand partnerships do not always need to revolve around one famous personality. Sometimes, the strongest campaigns are those that bring different creative voices together.
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into! Click here to join!
Also read:
Siya Kolisi joins Life & Brand as stakeholder in restaurant group
Picture: Nando’s / Facebook
