Quantuma secures the future of Leon Restaurants with over 530 jobs saved
More than 500 jobs have been secured, following a restructuring project at Leon Restaurants. The firm has secured a Company Voluntary Arrangement from creditors to keep it out of administration, with help from Quantuma consultants.
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.”
Known as the ‘naturally fast food’ restaurant chain, LEON was founded in 2004 with its first outlet located in London’s Carnaby Street. The chain expanded to a total of 75 sites, and some 1,000 staff, with a mix of owned and franchised outlets.
After a downturn, however, the LEON chain was bought back by its co-founder and former chief executive John Vincent in October 2025, from Asda. Vincent said at the time that the company was losing about £10 million a year, and that after an initial review of the company, the "immediate priority" was to close "the most unprofitable restaurants".
Hiring restructuring experts Brian Burke and Michael Kiely from Quantuma, along with Andrew Andronikou (now a partner with BTG Consulting), as administrators in December, the restructuring process commenced. Over recent months, they have worked closely with LEON’s leadership team, navigated its immediate challenges, devised and delivered a robust restructuring programme, concluding with a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).
The restructuring of the business has removed a number of underperforming sites in the LEON chain of restaurants. Affected employees were assisted by the establishment of a programme with Pret A Manger where they were able to apply for jobs via a dedicated channel.
The Leon Grocery business was not affected by the Administration and restructuring. Meanwhile, the CVA will enable LEON to exit administration with a total of 43 restaurants, including 23 franchises – securing more than 530 jobs, and pressing ahead with ambitious development plans.
Brian Burke, joint nominee and managing director at Quantuma commented, “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.”
