*After overcoming financial turmoil earlier this year, Aisha “Pinky” Cole Hayes is steering Slutty Vegan into a new era through franchising.
As Franchise Times reports, the entrepreneur, who restructured the company in February and regained ownership by March, has hired seasoned franchise executive Shawntel Daniels as president and is preparing to unveil a “high-profile celebrity” as the brand’s first franchisee.
“I’ve never, in my history of being an entrepreneur or professional in the hospitality space, I’ve never seen anybody that has done what I’ve done in less than one year,” Cole Hayes said.
Slutty Vegan started as a food truck and grew into a $100 million brand, with restaurants in multiple cities and a celebrity fan base that includes Snoop Dogg and Queen Latifah.
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The chain became known for indulgent vegan twists on fast-food staples. Its rapid rise eventually led to financial strain. By early 2025, Slutty Vegan was burdened with about $20 million in debt. Earlier this year, Cole Hayes filed for a state-level alternative to bankruptcy known as an assignment for the benefit of creditors, closed underperforming stores, and restructured operations before purchasing back the company name and intellectual property under a new parent company, Ain’t Nobody Coming To See You Otis. Today, six restaurants remain open across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, New York, and Maryland.
Now back at the helm as CEO, Cole Hayes says her focus is on rebuilding carefully. “Once upon a time, I said that I would never franchise, but I realized, in order for me to take this brand to where I want to take it, it’s going to require other people who are really experienced operators,” she said.
Franchise costs range from $555,900 to $1.16 million for a restaurant, with optional food trucks available. Initial expansion will prioritize Georgia and Florida, but filings in 32 states open the door to broader growth.
“I want the reader to be able to say, damn, like Pinky, yeah, she’s been through a lot. She restructured her company. She started over, but she’s doing the impossible,” Cole Hayes said. “And her courage is what makes this offering so attractive, right? Because she never gave up.”
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Slutty Vegan Founder Pinky Cole Plans Comeback and Expansion After Losing Multi-Million-Dollar Business
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