Leonardo DiCaprio backs Neat Burger ahead of global expansion plans

Leonardo DiCaprio has backed plant-based restaurant chain Neat Burger in its latest round of fundraising.

The Hollywood actor has joined the UK-based burger group as a ‘strategic investor’ as it plans to accelerate its expansion worldwide.

The proceeds of the latest fundraise, which were not disclosed, will be used to kick-start plans to grow the company from eight London sites to 436 locations worldwide within four years.

Neat Burger, which is also backed by Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, will open a permanent New York City site this autumn and plans to launch in ‘major hubs’ across the United States.

The group is also planning expansion in Italy and the Middle East this year through a mix of company-owned and franchised sites.

Neat Burger said it expected to have 42 sites worldwide by the end of this year, including 12 in the USA, before growing to 231 restaurants by the end of 2024 and 436 by the end of 2026.

DiCaprio said: "Disrupting our food system with sustainable alternatives is one of the key ways we can make a real difference in reducing global emissions.

“Neat Burger's pioneering approach to alternative-proteins is a great example of the type of solutions we need moving forward."

The group also aims to sell its plant-based burger patties, fish filet and other products in retail in both the UK and USA.

Neat Burger recently announced of a number of appointments to its advisory board including Jeffrey S. Fried, the former chairman of US salad chain Sweetgreen; Henrik Fjordbak, previously chief operations officer at Joe & the Juice; and James Skidmore, former chief executive at Hain Daniels.

Further UK restaurants are planned to open on London’s King’s Road and at the O2 arena.

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