ON Monday morning residents of Bowen in far north Queensland awoke to find their iconic Big Mango had gone missing.
Around Australia, people speculated in the news and social media about the whereabouts of the mango and puzzled over how someone could remove a ten metre high, ten tonne mango without anyone noticing.
Outlandish theories started to emerge and memes appeared across social media.
On Tuesday afternoon, Nando’s Restaurants admitted they were responsible for ‘borrowing’ the Big Mango in what had become known as ‘Mango Gate’.
But questions as to why Nando’s would ‘borrow’ a giant mango have remained unanswered…. until now.
On Thursday morning Nando’s will launch their new sauce flavour – Mango and Lime – alongside an eight metre replica of the Bowen Big Mango in Melbourne.
Known for its flame grilled PERi-PERi chicken, Nando’s are launching Mango and Lime to cater for people who don’t always want hot and spicy.
And for those who enjoyed ‘Mango Gate’ there will be an enormous eight metre replica of the Bowen mango which is bound to inspire some creative photography.
"We’ll also be introducing the Giant Mango to a Giant Lime in the hope that they’ll live happily ever after in Nando’s Restaurants across Australia," Nando's PR Manager Jude Leon said.
"Chairman of Bowen Tourism, Paul McLauglin, who was instrumental in facilitating Nando’s Big Mango heist, will also be celebrating with Nando’s in Federation Square," she said.
On Friday morning, Nando’s will celebrate with locals in Bowen as the Big Mango is reinstalled.
"Thousands of bottles of Nando’s PERi-PERi sauce will be given out to Bowen residents as a small gesture of thanks for their good humour and support."