Leon increases staff benefits as the company grows
Healthy fast-food restaurant chain Leon has decided to increase the benefits it offers staff after reporting another successful financial year.
The firm's annual accounts for the year ending December 2015, filed today (9 May), showed Leon opened 12 sites in the period creating 235 new jobs.
Like-for-like sales increased by an additional 7.8% on top of last year's 23%, while EBITDA increased by 46% to £2.26m from £1.55m the previous year.
John Vincent (pictured), co-founder of Leon thanked his 600-strong team for their continued innovation and commitment.
He said: "Every year Leon just grows bigger and stronger. To add 7.8% like-for-like sales to last year's 23% is a testament to the Leon team.
"We want everyone to eat well and be well, and we start with our own team members, who are like family to us. That is why we have maintained benefits like free meals, paid breaks and, in addition, significantly increased the discount on meals when not on shift."
He added: "In 2015 we continued to grow but never lost sight of what we do best; innovate and provide naturally fast food. Last year we developed a number of new items like a dairy-free chocolate shake, our own date and cinnamon butter and a Brazilian black bean stew. We also reduced the sugar in our still lemonade by 20%. It will always be the Leon mission to serve food that is both good and good for you."
Leon introduced the National Living Wage in January, three months before the legislation came into force, and to all staff regardless of age.
The firm has also introduced a 60% discount, for team members plus four guests, on food purchased outside of work time.
Leon will be opening its first site outside the UK this summer at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam.
It has 35 restaurants in total with plans to open several more both in the UK and abroad during 2016.
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