Leon was founded by Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent in 2004, with an ethos of fast and fresh.
The business was sold for a reported, £100million in 2021 to EG Group. EG Group operates across 10 countries, employs 53,000 and had a revenue of $21billion in 2021.
EG Group is now the UK’s largest operator of KFC, Greggs and Starbucks franchises. It also has its own brands, such as Leon.
Henry Dimbleby has more recently worked on The National Food Strategy – The Plan an independent review for the Government.
The Leon spin on fast food is “Naturally Fast Food” and will open a Wetherby road site in Harrogate on 1 July 2022.
The site next to the Woodlands Pub was previously a denture workshop, but had been empty for a number of years. Planning permission had twice been applied for and refused by Harrogate Borough Council Planning Committee. It went to appeal and the planning inspector granted permission.
This is the second drive-thru restaurant LEON has opened, witth the first in Gildersome, Leeds during 2021.
Loen say that it has created 20 jobs and will have digital kiosks .Heading up the team of 20 will be Alex Parkinson, a Harrogate local who was originally hired by LEON as the assistant general manager at LEON’s Gildersome drive-thru.
Glenn Edwards, Managing Director said:
Since opening our first drive-thru restaurant last year, we have been eager to grow this style of restaurant in order to bring LEON to more guests and allow them to experience LEON while on the go – something that aligns with our mission to bring naturally fast food that tastes good, does you good and is kind to the planet. Our opening in Harrogate is a massive achievement across all fronts.
