Leon co-founders receive MBEs in Queen's Birthday Honours
John Vincent (left) and Henry Dimbleby
Leon co-founders John Vincent and Henry Dimbleby have each been awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for their work creating the School Food Plan.
The plan, published in July 2013, has helped schools to transform their food culture, with compulsory cooking on the curriculum, new school food standards, and free school meals for all five, six and seven year olds.
Dimbleby and Vincent were joined by Helen Dhaliwal, co-founder and director of Red Hot World Buffet, who also received an MBE for her services to the hospitality industry.
Meanwhile, Janet and Arthur Watson, co-owners of the Riverside restaurant in Bridport, Dorset, were made Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) for services to hospitality in the South West.
Andrew Wood, executive chef at the University of York, also received a BEM for services to higher education and catering, as did Iris Paterson, a catering assistant at the University of Aberdeen, for services to student catering.
Commenting on receiving an MBE, Vincent said: "Writing and helping to implement the School Food Plan was a massive privilege and a character-building task. This recognition is a tribute to all of the people who work hard every day to provide health, pleasure and improved attainment to our children. Let's all keep going."
Leon, the healthy fast food restaurant group, was founded in 2004 with the aim of making it easier for everyone to eat good food. It now has 22 restaurants across the UK.
There were 1,163 people on the Queen's Birthday Honours List this year, of which 51% were women.
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