LEON Food Chain: Who Owns LEON, Founders and History

Who owns LEON?

LEON is owned by its co-founder John Vincent. His company Febraro Ltd became LEON's controlling shareholder, with over 75% of shares and votes, on 31 October 2025, when he bought the chain back from Asda.

Companies House lists Febraro Limited (company 16702883) as the person with significant control of Leon Restaurants Limited (company 05018441). Vincent is Febraro's sole director and its controlling shareholder.

The price was never disclosed. The Guardian reported it at £30m to £50m, and described the deal as "self-funded, debt-free". Treat that figure as reported, not confirmed.

Vincent is also LEON's chief executive, described as "Founder and CEO" in June 2026. LEON's directors at Companies House are Vincent (appointed 31 October 2025) and Christopher Burford (appointed 15 September 2026).

• 2004 to April 2021: the founders, angel investors and, later, private equity backers
• April 2021 to October 2023: EG Group, for a reported £100m
• October 2023 to October 2025: Asda, which bought EG Group's UK business, LEON included
• Since 31 October 2025: John Vincent, through Febraro Ltd

Who founded LEON?

LEON was founded by John Vincent, Henry Dimbleby and chef Allegra McEvedy. Vincent is the only founder who still runs the business.

Henry Dimbleby was chief executive from 2004 to 2014, when Vincent took over. Vincent ran LEON until the 2021 sale to EG Group and returned as owner and CEO in October 2025.

Wikipedia reports that Dimbleby left the board in 2017 and remains a shareholder. In October 2025 he publicly criticised Asda's ownership of the chain. The Guardian reported in December 2025 that McEvedy is "no longer formally involved", though she joined a menu brainstorming session.

Under EG Group and Asda, LEON was run by managing directors. Glenn Edwards stepped down in November 2023. Mac Plumpton was appointed in April 2024 and left in February 2026 to become UK CEO of Tortilla.

When and where did LEON start?

The first LEON opened on Carnaby Street in London in July 2004. The company had been set up on 19 January 2004 as Season Restaurants Limited, and took the name Leon Restaurants Limited on 13 April 2007.

One source differs: a December 2025 Guardian article says the first restaurant opened in Camden. EG Group's 2021 press release and most other reports say Carnaby Street, so that is the location given here.

It was a founding member of the Sustainable Restaurant Association in 2008, and opened its first restaurant outside England in Amsterdam in June 2016. It marked its 20th birthday with a new menu in autumn 2024. Today's dishes and prices are on the LEON menu with prices.

What does "naturally fast food" mean?

"Naturally fast food" is LEON's own name for what it serves. LEON's website tells "The story of Naturally Fast Food" and gives its mission as "For everyone to eat well and live well".

EG Group's 2021 announcement of the sale said LEON "created the category of 'naturally fast food'" when it opened in 2004.

Beyond those lines, LEON gives no fixed definition. To judge the idea dish by dish, compare calories and protein in our guide to healthy options at LEON.

How many LEON restaurants are there?

40 LEON restaurants were open on 12 October 2026, by LEON's own store finder. LEON came out of administration in May 2026 with 43 sites, 23 of them franchised.

The chain is far smaller than at its peak. Of the 40 open sites, 21 are in London. By type, 14 are high street sites, 12 are at motorway services, 6 at stations, 4 in shopping centres and 3 at airports, plus one at the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone. Outside London, the only open site that is not a transport hub is at Bluewater shopping centre.

Find your nearest one in our list of LEON locations, or see every LEON restaurant in London.

LEON timeline: key dates since 2004

What happened to LEON in 2025 and 2026?

Weeks after buying LEON back, John Vincent put it into administration in December 2025 to close loss-making sites. It exited on 28 May 2026, when a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) was approved, keeping 43 sites and over 530 jobs.

The administrators were Quantuma, with Brian Burke appointed between 10 and 18 December 2025. About 20 closures were announced at the start. By the end, the estate had gone from 71 sites to 43, with 23 company-owned sites closed.

The losses behind it were reported in LEON's accounts. The Grocer reported a loss of £19.5m for 2023. The Guardian reported 2024 sales of £62.5m and a pre-tax loss of £8m.

Vincent lent the business a further £2.5m during the restructuring, MCA Insight reported in May 2026. The notice ending the administration was filed on 3 September 2026, and Companies House now shows the company's status as "Voluntary Arrangement".

Vincent has said he wants LEON "back to its best", with ambitions to grow back to around 100 UK outlets over four years.