Reporting by Dennis Byron, Investigative Reporter
April 18, 2025
ATLANTA, GA — In a remarkable display of resilience and entrepreneurial spirit, Pinky Cole, the dynamic founder of Slutty Vegan, has reclaimed ownership of her renowned vegan fast-food chain. After a period of financial turbulence and a brief loss of control, Cole is now steering the brand into an ambitious new era dubbed “Slutty Vegan 2.0,” promising innovation, global expansion, and a renewed commitment to her vision.
Pinky Cole’s path has been anything but conventional. From launching Slutty Vegan in 2018 as a late-night food truck in Atlanta to building it into a $100 million empire, her journey has been marked by both meteoric success and significant challenges. In early 2025, Cole faced a series of setbacks, including a life-threatening car accident and mounting financial pressures that led to a temporary loss of ownership of her company.
“Our corporate overhead was about $10 million,” Cole revealed in an exclusive interview with People magazine. “I was chasing something that I couldn’t catch for so many reasons.” The financial strain necessitated a restructuring process, during which Cole relinquished control of Slutty Vegan to an assignee on February 13, 2025. This period saw the closure of several locations, including those at Spelman College and Georgia Tech.
Undeterred, Cole embarked on a mission to reclaim her brand. On March 28, 2025, she successfully bought back Slutty Vegan, announcing the revival through an Instagram post: “Slutty Vegan is mine again …and this time, we’re doing it the right way” citeturn0search27. This marked the inception of Slutty Vegan 2.0, a reimagined version of the brand with “new rules and new intentions.”
In a candid interview on TheGrio’s “Masters of the Game,” Cole emphasized the importance of consistency and quality in business. “It’s easy to get [success]. Keeping it is the challenge because now you have to focus on policies, procedures, systems, [and] consistency in business,” she stated.
One of the critical lessons Cole learned from her previous experience was the necessity of active involvement in her business operations. “I wasn’t the operational person,” she admitted. “You can never take your hands off the wheel”.
This time around, Cole is taking a more hands-on approach, ensuring that she is not just the face of the brand but also its driving force.
She has also re-evaluated her hiring practices, shifting from prioritizing loyalty to seeking out individuals with expertise and alignment with her vision. “Before, I used to hire loyalty, but loyalty don’t pay the bills,” Cole remarked. “You gotta get people that are extremely intelligent, extremely experienced in the field, [who] have something to offer and have the same alignment and ethos that you have”.
With Slutty Vegan 2.0, Cole is setting her sights beyond the United States. She has expressed intentions to expand the brand internationally, with potential locations in Dubai and Africa. “Global expansion is big for 2.0,” Cole shared. “We’ve been talking about Dubai and Africa and just really scaling Slutty Vegan beyond the U.S.”
Currently, Slutty Vegan operates seven locations: five in Georgia, one in Alabama, and another in New York. The brand’s previous expansion included locations in Texas and additional spots in New York, some of which were closed during the restructuring process. Cole’s vision for the future includes not only reopening and expanding domestically but also establishing a global presence.
Beyond Slutty Vegan, Cole is collaborating with her husband, Derrick Hayes, CEO of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, to form the Hayes Hospitality Group. This joint venture aims to build a comprehensive food empire, combining their respective brands and expertise. “Between me and my husband and his projects and my projects—I just love to connect people and community. And if I can do that by way of food, it’s a win-win for everybody,” Cole expressed.
Cole’s commitment to community engagement remains a cornerstone of her business philosophy. Through the Pinky Cole Foundation, she has initiated various programs aimed at supporting underserved communities, including scholarships, food drives, and employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals. Her efforts have earned her recognition not just as a successful entrepreneur but also as a dedicated philanthropist.
As Slutty Vegan 2.0 embarks on this new chapter, Cole’s focus is clear: to build a sustainable, globally recognized brand that stays true to its roots while embracing innovation and growth. Her journey serves as an inspiring testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to one’s vision.
“I just want to sit back and watch all of the great brands that I build and create, be successful,” Cole stated, embodying the forward-thinking mindset that continues to drive her entrepreneurial endeavors.
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For more information on Slutty Vegan 2.0 and its upcoming ventures, visit https://sluttyveganatl.com.
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Dennis E. Byron is a renowned celebrity photographer and award-winning investigative journalist. With a career spanning over three decades, Dennis has established himself as a prominent figure in the photography industry. Starting in 1989, he began his journey by capturing iconic moments with some of the biggest names in hip-hop and R&B music.
Dennis’s exceptional skills and refined artistic eye have enabled his work to be featured in prestigious publications worldwide. His photographs have graced the pages of renowned magazines such as The Source, Vibe Magazine, Essence Magazine, The Washington Post, Getty Images, Associated Press, USAToday, Black Enterprise, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Reuters, Newsweek, Upscale Magazine, and Hip Hop Enquirer Magazine, among countless others. Additionally, his captivating visuals have also been showcased in highly watched television programs such as The Wendy Williams Show and TMZ.
