Up Against Nando’s, Prepare Ahead!

Today there was an interesting yet annoying incident in my workplace. For those who don’t know where I work, I’ve got a part time job in Nando’s, one of global fast food restaurants that is famous for its flame-grilled chicken and peri-peri sauce.

It all started when a middle-aged man asking me the certificate that was being put on top of the counter. I then said that it was a certificate saying that all the food was halal.

The man introduced himself as a member of an Australian Muslim Community. I’m not sure the name of the organisation though.

Suddenly, he looked so suspicious about my reply, and I just stood there without saying any words. And a few seconds later, he said, “Hey, you sell bacon, how could you show that certificate and tell everybody that your food is halal?”

Well, pardon me, I mean all the grilled chicken was halal but not the bacon.

He warned that he could take Nando’s to court for misleading customers about its products.

Eh? I couldn’t believe it was so serious.

This incident somehow reminds me of the course I am learning (i.e. Public Relations). When I was asked to produce a PR strategy, I was expected to come up with an objective, the detailed strategy and stuff. It makes me analyse the target audiences including customers (if it’s a business organisation) and any others third parties which may give influence to company’s operation in both short and long term.

Analyse all possible target audiences, who is for you, who is against you. Anticipate any crises. Think outside the box. Expect the unexpected things.

You wouldn’t have thought that a Muslim community may go up against Nando’s, would you?

What a way of thinking!!

~ by annice on September 24, 2007.