Fri, 16 Jan 2026

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 Leon will focus on stations and airports to revive fortunes, boss says

The fast food chain is closing its stores outside London as part of a restructuring plan.
Leon, a fast-food chain, will be closing 20 restaurants on high streets due to rising costs and decreasing profitability. However, the company plans to expand its presence in service stations, airports, and train stations. John Vincent, the boss of Leon, stated that the increasing business rates and overall cost increases make it difficult for the High Street restaurants to remain profitable. He added that Leon has been losing £10m a year. Vincent, who bought the company back from Asda last year, attributed the decline in profitability to the fact that high streets are no longer as lucrative as they once were. He pointed out that businesses with higher overheads, such as those selling low-quality food, would be more likely to survive under these conditions. Leon's restructuring plans include closing restaurants outside of London due to high operating costs and upward-only rents in the capital. However, Vincent believes that airports are a more profitable option for the company, citing higher revenue potential compared to High Street locations. The UK government has announced a £4.3bn support package to help hospitality businesses cope with rising costs. However, some businesses have expressed concerns that this package favors pubs over other sectors and that further assistance is needed.
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