Pinky Cole’s Surprising Turnaround After Losing and Regaining Slutty Vegan

Pinky Cole, founder of the Atlanta-based culinary sensation Slutty Vegan, has announced a transformative period for her restaurant chain after reclaiming full ownership this year. With ambitions to franchise, Cole is pivoting the brand towards exciting new horizons. Valued at nearly $100 million in 2022 post a $25 million Series A funding led by notable investors, the restaurant faced significant operational hurdles that temporarily stripped Cole of control. Rapid growth, a $20 million debt, and overhead costs of $100,000 weekly contributed to this restructuring, prompting her reflection, “I was chasing something that I couldn’t catch.” The revitalization began in March after Cole acquired her business under the newly established Ain’t Nobody Coming to See You, Otis LLC. Slutty Vegan 2.0 will spotlight franchising, with Lauren Maillian appointed president to facilitate expansion. Franchise investors can open sites ranging from approximately $555,900 to $1,201,500. Cole aims to unveil her inaugural franchisee soon, focusing on Georgia and Florida as key markets.