Rapid Response: Slutty Vegan wants to be the next Shake Shack, with founder Pinky Cole
Jun 25, 2024
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Pinky Cole, founder of Slutty Vegan, discusses scaling her plant-based fast food chain despite challenges like lawsuits and competition closures. She shares her empowering journey, recent $9 million gift to HBCU grads, and commitment to community impact.
Creating a welcoming experience for non-vegans is key to Slutty Vegan's success.
Pinky Cole emphasizes making data-driven decisions to navigate scaling challenges.
Deep dives
Pinky Cole's Approach to Veganism and Business
Pinky Cole's success with Slutty Vegan lies in creating a welcoming experience for non-vegans, encouraging them to try plant-based burgers. She emphasizes that the focus is on the experience rather than the ethical aspects of veganism, allowing people to enjoy vegan comfort food in a fun and non-threatening way. By making veganism approachable and enjoyable, she aims to change perceptions about plant-based food and make a positive impact on the planet.
Challenges of Scaling and Growth in the Vegan Space
Pinky Cole acknowledges the difficulties of scaling Slutty Vegan, especially in a largely untapped vegan market. She faces challenges like location suitability, customer preferences, and market trends, which require her to make data-driven decisions to ensure sustainable growth. Despite the challenges, she remains determined to navigate the complexities of scaling a business and competing with established fast-food chains.
Personal and Professional Growth Amidst Challenges
Pinky Cole reflects on the personal and professional struggles she has faced in growing Slutty Vegan, including the stress of scaling a multimillion-dollar brand and the challenges of balancing business expansion with personal milestones like marriage and motherhood. She emphasizes the importance of humility and learning from setbacks, illustrating her commitment to continuous self-improvement and dedication to her entrepreneurial journey.
While many plant-based food brands have struggled recently, Pinky Cole’s fast food chain Slutty Vegan keeps growing, with new restaurants across the U.S. Pinky sits down with Rapid Response host Bob Safian to explain how she’s scaling the brand despite lawsuits, social media attacks and a flurry of vegan restaurant competitor closures. Pinky also shares the story behind her recent keynote at Savannah State University, where she gifted the HBCU grads almost $9 million in entrepreneurial tools and training.