Leon Restaurants

Leon is a restaurant group, based in London, specialising in seasonal, naturally fast food.[1]

History

Leon was founded by chef Allegra McEvedy[2] with Henry Dimbleby[3] and John Vincent[4][5] and was named after Vincent's father.[3][4][6] Leon invented their Naturally Fast Food[7] concept & opened their first outlet in Carnaby Street in 2004.[8] Six months after opening, Leon was named the “Best New Restaurant in Great Britain” at The Observer Food Monthly Awards.[6] In March 2009 McEvedy gave up her role at Leon to focus on writing and television work, but she remains a shareholder in the business.

There are now 21 Leon restaurants of various sizes – the most recently opened at Stansted in mid-December 2014 – with plans to open 12 more in 2015.[7]

Future plans

The Financial Times reported in February 2012 that Leon had hired Brad Blum, former Burger King chief executive, to advise on expansion plans and that they had also signed a deal with US-based HMSHost to open their first two franchised outlets in the United States.[9] HMSHost operate 5 Leon Restaurant locations, in transport hubs around the UK including Heathrow Terminal 2, Heathrow Terminal 3, Kings Cross Station, Eurotunnel, East Midlands Airport & Stansted Airport. [10][11][12] Leon is eyeing a US expansion in 2016. By establishing a growing presence in transport hubs around the UK, the founders are hoping to reach an international audience, and help create demand for Leon ahead of overseas openings.[13]

Other activities

As well as running restaurants Leon has produced a series of cookbooks which are marketed in the United Kingdom and in the United States.[14]

Organisation

John Vincent is the group's chief executive.[15][16] Henry Dimbleby, co-founder, is a founder director of the Sustainable Restaurant Association.[17] John Vincent & Henry Dimbleby co-authored the Independent School Food Plan for the UK government in 2012 and succeeded in getting Free School Meals for all infants in receptions, years 1 and 2 in 2014. [18][19]

References

  1. ↑ Day-Lewis, Tamasin (16 October 2004). "Fast, but not furious". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  2. ↑ "Food chefs: Allegra McEvedy". London: BBC website. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Evans, Simon (16 August 2009). "Henry Dimbleby: nine restaurants and growing". The Independent (London). Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "John Vincent, co-founder, Leon Restaurants". Marketing. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  5. ↑ Bordell, Tom and Jaffer, Mehdi. "If God owned McDonald's...". London: The Gateway. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Nielsen, Tina (July 2008). "Profile: Leon". Director magazine (London). Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Restaurants, Leon. "Vision". leonrestaurants.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  8. ↑ Scott-Moncrieff, Chloe (22 January 2006). "Fast food needn't be junk food". The Independent (London). Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  9. ↑ Moules, Jonathan (6 February 2012). "Leon hires former Burger King chief". Financial Times (London). Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  10. ↑ Restaurants, Leon. "HMS". Leonrestaurants.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  11. ↑ Central & East News. "Leon Lands at Stansted". www.insidermedia.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  12. ↑ Lysecki, Sarah. "HMSHost wins Eurotunnel and East Midlands Airport concessions". http://www.moodiereport.com/document.php?doc_id=37073''. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  13. ↑ Burn-Callander, Rebecca. "Leon eyes US expansion". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  14. ↑ Andres, Holly (17 October 2012). "English restaurateurs share ideas for healthy cooking in 'Leon: Naturally Fast Food'". Press-Telegram (Long Beach, California). Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  15. ↑ Pearse, Nathan. "Leon reports lfl growth of 22%". Eatoutmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  16. ↑ Airport, Stansted. "Leon, the naturally fast food option, opens at Stansted". stanstedairport.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  17. ↑ "Our Directors and Key Staff". Sustainable Restaurant Association. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  18. ↑ Bremner, Myles. "School Food Plan". www.schoolfoodplan.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  19. ↑ Ping, Andrew. "Free school meals for infants hailed by clegg". publicfinance.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2015.

External links