Robby Enthoven: Business Innovator Behind Nando’s Great Success


Enthoven family is a billionaire business family in South Africa. First, Dick Enthoven has popularity as a billionaire businessman. He found many businesses’ largest groups.

Similarly, His Son Robby Enthoven was born with entrepreneurial blood from a wealthy Enthoven family. He is also a businessman, like his father and uncle.

Let’s explore how the Enthoven family started billionaire businesses like Nandos Menu company and some other groups and how Dick Enthoven and Robby enhanced their business like pro business people.

Dick Enthoven

Basic Introduction

NameMr Dick Richard Enthoven
Born1937
Born PlaceJohannesburg, South Africa
EducationUniversity of Southern California, London School of Economics and Political Science
ProfessionBusinessman
Recognition For Owner of Hollard Group, Nando’s, and Spier Wine Farm
Spouse Karen Enthoven 
Children 3, including Robby
Relatives Patrick Enthoven (brother)
Died 2 December 2022 (aged 85)
Dick Enthoven
Dick Enthoven

Richard was a South African Billionaire businessman. The most popular groups, Hollard Group, Nando’s, and Spier Wine Farm, were founded by Dick Enthoven. 

He is the son of “Robert Enthoven” who was a South African entrepreneur and “amassed an insurance fortune.” His father was the owner of “Robert Enthoven Insurance Brokers” company.

Surname “Enthoven” Meaning And Origin

Enthoven’s surname comes from “Dutch” Origin. This word is derived from two words; “en,” Meaning “in,” and the second word, “Hoven,” meaning  “court or garden.” It seems a person who works in court or lives in the garden area. It could be the connection of land and community.

Dick Enthoven’s Impact on the Business

Richard Enthoven was the most brilliant South African entrepreneur and billionaire businessman. His impact on the South African business economy is the biggest achievement in his life. 

His Business’s Philosophy is;
“Find and support strong entrepreneurs, take a long-term view, and only be involved in relationships that were “win-win,” never to benefit at someone else’s expense.”

He started and transformed businesses like Hollard Insurance, Auto and General, Nando’s, Direct Axis & Beyond, and Spier Wine Estate into big franchises.

Nandos Food Branch

Nandos Peri Peri Chicken Branch was started in South Africa in 1987 by Fernando Durate and Robert Brozin. They worked too hard to spread the branches at different locations. 

After this, Nandos was owned by Dick Enthoven in 1992, when there were just three struggling restaurants in Johannesburg. Robby Enthoven took charge to open Nandos Menu and restaurants in the UK. 

Hollard Group

Company Type Privately Owned
IndustryInsurance 
Founded1980, 44 years ago
Headquarters Johannesburg, South Africa
Number of Employees 2350 (2019)

Richard’s father started a small company, Hollard, in South Africa. In 1980, he established this company with his brother Patrick. 

Then, moved to Sydney in 1999 to establish Hollard Insurance Company. They transformed a small insurance company into the largest privately owned insurance company in South Africa. 

This company is serving with short term insurance, life insurance, and investment products. The group employs more than 4000 individuals. 

Today, Hollard Group has become an Afro-global insurance brand with more than 10 million policyholders, operations across four continents, and assets exceeding R23 billion.

Richard has also started Australian operations of South Africa-based Hollard Insurance Group, including Hollard insurance, financial insurance, and real insurance. In 2017, he became chairman and president of the Insurance Council of Australia.

He was a member of the advisory board for Head Over Heels, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting high-potential businesses owned by women.

Enthoven was featured in the Insurance Business Hot List 2019, and received ANZIIF’s prestigious Insurance Leader of the Year Award, also in 2019.

Spier Wine Farm

In 1993, he purchased Spier Wine Farm, which has been expanded into an acclaimed biodynamic farm, center for the visual and performing arts, hotel, and conference venue.

Spier Wine Farm in Cape Town
Spier Wine Farm in Cape Town

Dick Enthoven’s Death

He died of cancer in 2022 (age 85). His favorite quote is;

“The gratification of wealth is not found in mere possession or lavish expenditure, but in its wise application.” (Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, 16th-century Spanish author of Don Quixote). 

Robby Enthoven

Basic Introduction

Birth Name Robert Adrian Graham Enthoven
Born 1 May 1968 (age 56–57) South Africa
Administration Managing Director of Nandos 
NationalitySouth Africa, Dutch
Mother’s Maiden NameT’hooft
Father’s Name Dick Enthovn 
Mother’s NameKaren Enthoven 
Relative Patrick Enthoven (Uncle)

Robby’s Family


His grandfather “Robert Enthoven” was also an entrepreneur. His grandfather started a small insurance company. Both his father and uncle also play a key role in insurance companies and other groups.

They are three siblings. Robby Enthoven, Adrian Enthoven, and a daughter, Mariota Enthoven. Robby Enthoven is the head of Nandos Peri Peri in the UK. 

Adrian Enthoven


Adrian Enthoven was educated at Michaelhouse School and at Oxford University (BA Hons in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, and PhD in Political Science) and now he is the owner of Hollard Group.

Adrian Enthoven
Adrian Enthoven

Adrian Enthoven is Executive Chairman of Yellowwoods, a European based private investment group. He is responsible for the African portfolio of financial services, hospitality and wine investments.

He serves on the boards of the Group’s South African based businesses, including Hollard (Chair), Clientele, Lombard, &Beyond (Co-Chair) and Spier (Chair). He is also involved in various projects and initiatives in the areas of youth employment, education, social justice and the arts.

He is a board member of Citizens ZA, the African Leadership Initiative (Chair) and Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA), and a Trustee of WWF South Africa. He is a member of the Advisory Board of MISTRA and of the Global Advisory Council of the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE). (Source : africaleadership.net)

He is married and living in Johannesburg with his four children.

Mariota Enthoven

Mariota was born at August 1972 with Dutch Nationality. In 2012, she was appointed as director of Spier wine Farm. Now she is a multi-billionaire businesswoman like her family.

Mariota & Robbie Enthoven
Mariota & Robbie Enthoven at Spier Wine Farm

The Mariota married Angus McIntosh, and they are working on Spier Biodynamic Farm. They supply organic meat to some high-end restaurants in Winelands and Capetown.

Mariota, and her husband Angus McIntosh
Mariota, and her husband Angus McIntosh

As analyzing his social media accounts, there is no update about his family, like his wife or children. It’s because he has more privacy about his personal family matters

Robby Enthoven As Nando’s Director

Robby Enthoven is a South African multi-billion-dollar entrepreneur. Currently, he is the manager director of Nando’s food chain. 

His father owned this food chain, but he was not sure if the business would grow. From that time, he started to implement his ideas on business.

He has been working on Nandos since 1993. The first UK restaurant opened shortly after in Ealing, West London. 

He changed the Nandos services from just take-away to delivery and eat-in at restaurants. Three hundred outlets were established in thirteen years in the UK.

After this, he introduced the method of placing the order at the counter. Then, customers will be served at the table, and also they can be taken away food.  

Now, Nandos has 1300 stores and many outlets in 30 countries. Nandos Chain has become the favorite Peri Peri Chicken all around the world, especially in the UK. 

He is managing a high-standard delivery business with his productive business skills. Robby runs this Nandos Peri Peri Chain with his business skills. 

Robby Enthoven’s Net worth

There is no confirmation of the exact net worth, but there are 400 outlets in the UK. It shows he is a multi-billionaire who is managing a big business. 

In 2019, his father sold their Sydney House for about $21.8 million, as it was Robby’s house. Robby’s £8m Wiltshire family home adds to his fortune.

In March 2015, Bloomberg estimated the Enthoven family’s net worth at US$1.1 billion.

Rewards

“Empowered workers build stronger futures.”

Robby proved this line, as he knows how to growth business with teamwork. He introduced a business philosophy for staff motivation.

He managed 75% human resources capacity for the budget. Furthermore, he allows branch managers to manage and control their budgets.

He started the motivator scheme for all Nando’s employees, and it was included;

  • Overseas trips for the best-performing employees
  • Free food 
  • Recreational staff parties
  • Rewards for great ideas 
  • Discounts

Awards

Nando’s growth had started due to Robby’s management skills, and super ideas. He began to work at Nandos Company when there were only two outlets.

He won the award of  “Group Restaurateur of the Year” in 2002 as he managed 6500 workers serving 900000 customers monthly in the UK.

In 2011, he established 234 branches in the UK and Ireland. Now, 400 outlets have been established in the UK, and it is a big achievement.

Closure

Robby Enthoven and his father, Dick, have shown what true entrepreneurship looks like. From starting small to building global businesses, their journey is inspiring.

Dick’s vision of creating fair opportunities and Robby’s innovative leadership turned Nando’s into a worldwide success. Their teamwork fuelled this incredible growth.

The Enthoven family proves that bold ideas and empowering people can build lasting legacies. Their story inspires future entrepreneurs to dream big and work hard.

FAQs

The family is estimated to have a net worth of around $1.1 billion.

Dick Enthoven was a billionaire entrepreneur who founded Hollard Insurance, Nando’s, and Spier Wine Farm.

Robby improved services and expanded Nando’s to over 400 outlets in the UK with innovative ideas.

The surname “Enthoven” is Dutch, meaning “in court or garden.”

He offered overseas trips, free food, staff parties, and discounts to motivate employees.

The family owns Hollard Insurance, Nando’s, and Spier Wine Farm.

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