Fast food chain LEON saved from administration, securing more than 530 jobs

Restaurant chain LEON has successfully exited administration, saving more than 530 jobs after securing support for a vital restructuring deal.

Known as the ‘naturally fast food’ restaurant chain, LEON has a number of restaurants in the Midlands - including one in Birmingham - serving up light bites such as sandwiches, wraps, burgers and salad boxes.

The business called in administrators in December and a number of underperforming stores have since closed as part of a restructure.

However, it has now been brought out of administration after a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), was approved by creditors, including HMRC, paving the way for the chain to stabilise its operations and pursue ambitious development plans.

More than 530 jobs have been saved across LEON’s head office, central support and trading site teams as a result.

John Vincent, founder and CEO of LEON, said: “I am so grateful to all our landlords and other creditors who have shown us such strong support in recent months. With their backing we now have the opportunity, as well as the responsibility, to get LEON back to its best and to help people eat and live well every day.“I would also like to thank all my colleagues for working extremely hard during the same period to stabilise the business and restore some of its old verve. And finally, I would like to thank all our LEON customers, who were so patient when the business was in the wilderness and are now back in our restaurants and cheering us on.”

Experts from business advisory firm Quantuma, successfully guided LEON through the restructure which has removed a number of underperforming outlets - leaving the business with a total of 43 restaurants, including 23 franchises.

Quantuma’s Brian Burke and Michael Kiely, along with Andrew Andronikou (now a partner with Begbies Traynor Advisory of BTG), were appointed as administrators on December 10 2025 to oversee the restructuring process. In recent months they worked closely with LEON’s leadership team, navigated its immediate challenges, devised and delivered a robust restructuring programme, concluding with the CVA.

Brian Burke, joint nominee and managing director at Quantuma, said: “I am delighted to have achieved this positive outcome for LEON which protects over 530 jobs and ensures the continuity of a highly valued restaurant chain. “While the retail and hospitality sector continues to suffer highly challenging trading conditions given the impacts of increased costs, tax burdens, business rates and national insurance, I am very pleased that the Quantuma team has secured an outcome that will position the business to return to its positive trajectory.”

LEON was founded in 2004 with its first outlet located in London’s Carnaby Street and the chain expanded to 75 sites with a mix of owned and franchised outlets. In October, just two months before the administrator were called in, the business was bought back by its co-founder and former chief executive John Vincent in October 2025 from Asda.

Employees affected by the restructure were offered assistance through a programme with Pret A Manger to apply for jobs.

The Leon Grocery business was not affected by the administration and restructure.

LEON has a flagship restaurant at Grand Central Station, New Street, Birmingham, and franchised eateries at motorway service stations including Norton Canes Services on the M6 Toll, Cannock, and Strensham Services on the M5 near Worcester.

These outlets all remain open and unaffected by the restructure.