Fast-food chain shrinks to loss

THE boss of Leon has called for an urgent reform of business rates after the restaurant chain lurched into the red.

Co-founder and chief executive John Vincent said online retailers had an unfair advantage over businesses which had a bricks-and-mortar presence on the High Street.

His comments came after sales at Leon jumped by more than a third but the chain slipped to a loss of £762,000 in the year to December 31.

It made a profit of £609,000 the previous year.

The company, which employs 920 staff, blamed tough conditions on the High Street, rising food and wage costs and growing rental bills.

Vincent said the only way of easing pressure on High Street restaurants was to cut business rates and for landlords to ease rents.