Now back to mine: Old Spice hits back at Nando’s with its own parody

Oooh… are we looking another back-and-forth ad exchange? In case you missed it, quirky fast food chain Nando’s took some inspiration from the viral gold that is the Old Spice ads recently with a parody focusing on chicken and um, a carousel pony. Now Old Spice South Africa has responded with its own Nando’s parody.

Using Nando’s signature typography (coloured Old Spice red) and design details, the team put together a simple but effective poster acknowledging the restaurant’s new TV ad. Posted to its Facebook page with the clever caption “Look at the latest Nando’s Original ad, now back to mine…”, the poster plays on the monologue Isaiah Mustafa runs through in the ads as well as the memorable “I’m on a horse” pose.

Nando’s hasn’t responded as yet, so this may not turn into another lengthy battle between advertising execs. Last year, Nando’s parodied the ads of insurance company Santam, which subsequently replied with an advert which said that, as a penalty for copying its commercial, Nando’s would have to deliver food to a children’s home. Nando’s eventually ended the exchange with another ad and a promise to provide food once a month for the next year.

Nando’s Old Spice ad has received a mixed reaction so far, mostly surrounding the fact that it doesn’t fit with the usual quick-and-cheeky responses customers have come to expect from the brand. Despite its seemingly never-ending popularity, the original Old Spice ad came out over three years ago.