Nando’s is back with a new sauce, this time with Siya Kolisi’s name on it

Siya Kolisi is adding another product to his growing list of activities outside rugby. The Springbok captain has teamed up with Nando’s to develop a limited-edition sauce that will be sold at the restaurant group's outlets across South Africa. Called Siya Sauce, the new product uses garlic, citrus and mild smoky flavours. It is not aimed at customers looking for the hottest sauce on the menu. Instead, Kolisi and Nando’s have gone with a milder flavour that can be used with different meals.

The sauce was unveiled on 31 October at the opening of Nando’s new restaurant in Stellenbosch. From 3 November, customers will be able to try it free of charge at Nando’s restaurants nationwide, while stocks last.

More than just a celebrity endorsement

Nando’s has chosen a familiar face for the launch, but Kolisi's involvement goes beyond appearing in an advert. He worked with the company's team on the recipe, using some of his preferred flavours to develop the final product. Kolisi said it was something he could eat regularly and put on almost anything. For Nando’s, this is another way of bringing a South African personality into its product offering. 

The company already has a recognisable range of sauces, so introducing one associated with Kolisi gives customers a new reason to try something different. The timing also puts the launch ahead of the busy festive season, when restaurants generally have more opportunities to attract people meeting friends and family for meals.

A Pretoria illustrator gets a place on the bottle

There is also a local creative involved in the project. Nando’s brought in Pretoria-based illustrator Mpho Boshoga to design the artwork for the Siya Sauce bottle. His street culture inspired style gives the packaging a different look from the company's regular sauce bottles. Working with local artists is not new for Nando’s. The company has a long history of using South African artwork in its restaurants and brand activities. For Boshoga, having his work featured on a product distributed through a national restaurant chain gives his illustrations exposure to a much wider audience.

Kolisi's friends feature in the campaign

The advertising campaign includes several people from Kolisi's circle, including Siv Ngesi, Sobantu Nqayi, Ray Malo, Vafa Naraghi, Nina Hastie, Jam Jam and Anton Taylor. Rather than building the campaign around rugby, Nando’s has focused on the social side of food, with friends and shared meals forming part of the story. Jessica Wheeler, chief brand and customer officer at Nando’s, said the company wanted to give customers something different to enjoy during the festive season.

Where to get Siya Sauce

The limited-edition sauce will be available at Nando’s restaurants across South Africa from 3 November 2026. Customers can try it free of charge for a limited period, subject to availability. There is no separate purchase price for the sauce during the promotion. 

For Kolisi, the project adds another consumer brand collaboration to his profile beyond professional rugby. For Nando’s, it is a product launch that combines a familiar name, a new flavour and local artwork. The real test will be whether customers enjoy the sauce enough to ask for it again once the initial interest around the launch has passed.