EG Group acquires fast food restaurant chain Leon
The British group has purchased a healthy fast food company to expand their food retail portfolio.
The EG Group owned by Blackburn’s billionaire Issa brothers has acquired an international fast food restaurant chain in an effort to continue their expansion in the food service sector.
The petrol station and c-store giant has purchased up Leon Restaurants Limited, a fresh fast food restaurant chain for £100 million.
Founded by John Vincent, Henry Dimbleby and Chef Allegra McEvedy in 2004, Leon created the category of ‘naturally fast food’ in a bid to offer healthier options. They now have a total of 70 restaurants and franchises, mainly in England.
“The acquisition of Leon presents EG Group with a fantastic opportunity to further develop the menu offer, the various concession formats including drive thrus, and will enable us to significantly build on the existing network by exploring opportunities across our own sites along with other strategic locations,” said Mohsin Issa CBE and Zuber Issa CBE, co-founders and co-CEOs, EG Group.
LEON also launched a grocery range in Sainsbury’s supermarkets and a kitchenware and cookware range with John Lewis. The brand has published 12 cook books and sold more than one million books, along with cookware and tableware.
The Issa brothers and TDR Capital recently signed a deal to acquire Leeds-based Asda. This acquisition is still subject to CMA approval.
