Fast food chain LEON to open in Glasgow

LEON, the naturally fast food chain, is poised to introduce its winning mix of fresh, flavourful food and big warm welcomes to Glasgow!

Article Source: LEON
Last Updated: 15 June 2016 15:43

The new Glasgow store in Buchanan Galleries will open its doors in early August 2016.

The LEON mission is to make it easier for everyone to eat and live well. When co- founders John Vincent and Henry Dimbleby started LEON in 2004, they asked themselves ‘what would fast food be like in heaven?’

John Vincent, co Founder and LEON CEO said: ‘I have happy memories of Glasgow. It is a city with style, spirit and energy. Now I have an excuse to come more often’.

John Vincent added: ‘We have received a lot of requests from people in Glasgow asking for us to open in their home town – we hope we can do them proud and create a place they love.’

The LEON menu is the result of the founders’ desire to create food that tastes good and does you good.

‘There is nothing in the word ‘fast’ or ‘food’ that means it has to be bad food. We want to create dishes, burgers and wraps that people dream about – and still feel good after they have eaten them’, said John Vincent.

Guest will be able to order LEON classics such as the Moroccan Meatball hotbox (served with tasty brown rice and crispy slaw), the signature fish finger wrap, the char-frilled chicken burger with tarragon olive oil mayo, baked fries and the original super food salad.

The chain has already recognised the strength of the Scottish food and supplier industry by recently signing a deal with Wester Ross Fisheries, the oldest independent owned salmon farm in Scotland. All 35 of LEON’s stores serve the hand reared, high welfare Scottish salmon in their breakfast pots and muffins. The chain is excited about the possibility of finding more Scottish suppliers to work with in the future.

LEON first opened in London in 2004 and shortly after was awarded Best New UK Restaurant by the Observer national newspaper. Since then LEON has opened 34 more stores in the UK.

Announcing the move at the Entrepreneurs Exchange event in Glasgow on 18 May, LEON co-founder John Vincent said:

“Glasgow will become the most northerly point on the LEON map, and our first high street store outside of London so I’m looking forward to introducing a whole new audience to our fun and fresh fast food.”

John Vincent was formerly part of the management team who turned around Whyte & Mackay between 2004 and 2007. This included rebranding the company's principal brands including Whyte and Mackay, Jura and The Dalmore and significantly increasing the value of the firm’s own label and bulk whisky business. When the company was sold everyone in the company was paid an extra three months’ salary.

The new LEON store will provide around 25 new jobs and has already started recruiting locally. Experienced LEON store manager Stacey Strachan, born in Stirling and bred in the Scottish Borders, jumped at the chance to be part of the team that introduced the LEON brand to Scotland.

Stacey Strachan said: “"I started my journey with Leon just over two years ago, but I have always been a fan. I remember years ago buying my dad the first LEON cookbook and persuading him to make me the sweet potato falafels and the chilli sauce. They tasted just like the real thing.

“Working for LEON really is like being part of a big family and I am very excited and honoured to be opening our first store in my family's home of Scotland. I am sure my fellow Scots will love LEON as much as I do."

“If you want to join our family in the Glasgow team, visit our job page at www.leonrestaurants.co.uk”

Emma Lawson, Portfolio Manager at Land Securities, which owns Buchanan Galleries said: “Glasgow is a magnet for new culinary outlets and Buchanan Galleries is delighted to be home to the first Scottish LEON store. The naturally fast food offering they have created is something completely different and we are sure shoppers will love it.”