Issa family’s EG Group seals deal for fast food restaurants
THE EG Group yesterday revealed it had acquired Leon Restaurants Ltd, the fresh fast food restaurant chain.
Founded by John Vincent, Henry Dimbleby and chef Allegra McEvedy in 2004, Leon has more than 70 restaurants across the UK, as well as outlets in Oslo, Amsterdam, Dublin, Rotterdam and Gran Canaria.
Last year Mr Vincent joined forces with actors Damian
Lewis, his recently deceased wife Helen McCrory and Matt Lucas to launch FeedNHS. The notfor-profit campaign raised vital funds and with partners delivered a million meals to key workers on the NHS front line during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement, EG Group said: “Following the acquisition, EG Group intends to invest in the Leon brand and broaden the current food service offer across the extensive global site network. With plans to open around 20 Leon sites per year from 2022, EG Group also sees significant potential for Leon’s non-restaurant products across its convenience retail proposition.”
Mohsin Issa CBE and Zuber Issa CBE, co-founders and coCEOs of EG Group, said: “Leon is a fantastic brand that we have long admired. As established entrepreneurs in the food service retail market ourselves, we have a huge admiration for the business that John and the Leon team have built over the years, and firmly believe that their culture and values closely align with our own.”
John Vincent, CEO, of Leon, said: “In some ways this is a sad day for me, to part company with the business I founded 17 years ago in Carnaby Street. But I have had the pleasure of getting to know Mohsin and Zuber across the last few years. They have been enthusiastic customers of Leon, going out of their way to eat here whenever they visit London.
“They are decent, hard-working business people who are committed to sustaining and further strengthening the values and culture that we have built at Leon, a business that has my dad’s name above the door.
“Thousands of people have been part of creating Leon experience. Each has left their mark, and I would like to thank everyone.”
The Issa brothers and TDR Capital recently signed a deal to acquire Leeds-based supermarket chain Asda.
This acquisition is still subject to Competition and Markets Authority approval.
A spokesman stressed that EG Group wasn’t involved in this transaction.