Leon, the “fresh fast food” restaurant chain bought by Blackburn-based petrol station and convenience store giant EG Group in April, has unveiled a growth strategy centred on plans to more than double the pace of its store rollout programme.

Leon said this will involve more than 50 restaurants opening in the next year creating 1,000 jobs, and 4,000 jobs over the next three years.

Mohsin Issa and Zuber Issa, co-founders and co-CEOs, EG Group, said: “When EG Group purchased Leon this year, we saw a great brand with substantial potential for growth.

“We’re pleased that the business is now set to deliver on that promise, both in the UK and Europe.

“Our investment in Leon, coupled with EG’s unparalleled operational excellence in foodservice operations, is unlocking considerable value and will help to deliver significant future growth and continue the diversification of EG’s business.”

In a statement, EG Group said: “After the strong success of newly opened restaurants, including Leon’s first Drive-Thru in West Yorkshire and new Leon sites in Asda Milton Keynes and Asda Holtspur in Beaconsfield, Leon will upscale its UK expansion.

“New restaurants will include both traditional and new formats such as DriveThrus; smaller restaurants on petrol forecourts and Asda premises; and Leon To Go coffee outlets.

“This expansion will be focused on supporting Leon’s regional growth, and the brand will for the first time be expanding its footprint across the whole of the country, with openings planned in both Scotland and Wales for early 2022.

“Additionally, Leon will expand internationally into the Netherlands with its own restaurants, with the first site due to be opened in Honswijk, on one of the top five busiest motorways in the country.

“This will be followed by c.10 further openings in the country in advance of a wider European expansion programme.”

Leon restaurants MD Glenn Edwards said: “We are very excited to announce a significant acceleration of Leon’s expansion.

“For the first time we will be taking Leon across the country, driving regional growth at speed.

“The new formats in this rollout will build on our traditional restaurants and form a base for further growth.

“Making Leon even more accessible is at the heart of this strategic expansion.

“We are absolutely focused on delivering for our clients and living up to Leon’s mission – making it easier for everybody to eat well, live well and be kind to the planet.”