Brand Takes

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Earned Media Brand or Funded Content? Cheeky Nando's by The Peri Boyz'

Phil OhrenPublished Updated 1 min read

Originally published at https://phillipohren.com/other/brand-funded-content-or-earned-media-cheeky-nandos-by-the-peri-boyz/

TL;DR

The 2015 viral hit 'Cheeky Nando's' looked a lot like silently funded brand content. Either way, it showed how speaking to a niche in its own language can reach millions without alienating everyone else. Disclosure rules for that kind of content are much stricter today.

Updated Oct 2026: A 2015 look at a viral video that may or may not have been brand-funded. The disclosure rules for that kind of content are much stricter now, but the creative lesson still holds: talk to a niche in its own language. Originally published 2015-09-03 on phillipohren.com.

It’s been three months since the world was left wondering WTF a Cheeky Nandos was. Not only does this video showcase a ‘Cheeky Nandos‘ at its best,  I’m also pretty sure that ‘Cheeky Nando’s by The Peri Boyz’ is one best pieces of silently funded brand content to go viral this year.

Yeah, it’s a bit lad-ish. But, the production quality naturally suggested that a decent budget was been behind it.

It ‘s already clocked 50K shares and 3,000,000 views on Facebook and 60,000 on YouTube.

If this was a piece of native content from Nandos then it’s quite smart. It reaches and acknowledges a niche audience with alienating the masses.


Images are linked to their Wayback Machine copies for now and need re-hosting before publishing. Archived from the Wayback Machine, October 2026.

Phil Ohren

Written by

Phil Ohren

Phil Ohren is an intent strategist, marketing advisor and speaker. Founder & CEO of Intender, with 24 years in performance & growth.

  • 214 clients advised
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  • 24 years in performance & growth
  • Founder & CEO of Intender

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