Leon expansion doubles after £100m takeover

Leon is planning to more than double its expansion plans following its £100m takeover by the EG Group. The Issa brothers-controlled owner of Asda is expected to announce today that it will increase the number of restaurant openings next year from 20 to 50. The restaurants will include new formats such as drive-throughs, smaller branches on petrol forecourts and in Asda stores, plus Leon To Go coffee shops. Much of the expansion will be focused outside London, with openings in Scotland and Wales early next year. The chain is also planning a 10-site European expansion, with the first opening in Honswijk in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, salad bar chain Choppaluna has laid out plans to open 10 restaurants in the UK next year. It opened its first site in London last October but has said it will now start rapidly expanding across the country. Choppaluna is part of Hero Brands, which also owns the German Doner Kebab and Island Poké chains. The Times (£) Image from Leon