Pinky Cole’s plant-based burger brand announced new franchising and strategic partnerships as it enters its next chapter
Just months after Slutty Vegan Founder Aisha ‘Pinky’ Cole Hayes filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the plant-based burger empire revealed plans to expand through new franchise agreements in Atlanta and Washington, D.C.
The Atlanta-based vegan fast-food chain announced it has signed franchise deals in both markets, marking a significant milestone in the company’s transition to a franchise-led growth model. The move comes as the brand seeks to rebuild and scale following a turbulent financial period that included corporate restructuring, store closures, and bankruptcy proceedings, reports 11Alive.
According to a company statement, Cole Hayes said the company is prioritizing partners who not only have business experience but who are also familiar with the cultural identity and impact of the Slutty Vegan brand. Franchise veteran Brandi Forte will lead development efforts in Washington, D.C., a market Cole views as a strategic fit for the brand’s mission and customer base.
“I was intentional about partnering with operators who understand our business and the culture,” Cole Hayes said in a statement, reports WSB-TV Channel 2 – Atlanta.
Franchisees Khadejah Davis and Jamel Douglas will open and operate a new location in Atlanta, becoming the first official Slutty Vegan franchise owners in the restaurant’s hometown. The business partners currently operate Juici Patties locations and have experience scaling restaurant brands, the company said.
“Atlanta is where Slutty Vegan was born, and we’re planting deeper roots here while establishing our presence in D.C.,” Cole Hayes said. “This is bigger than the burgers. We’re creating opportunity and legacy.”
“People think that bankruptcy is a bad thing. It is a tool. People use it all the time, so I am tapping into the tool. And I pray that tapping into this tool will relieve me of some of the responsibilities from a company that I no longer own,” Cole Hayes told Page Six.
She added that her business challenges have only made her stronger.
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Source: Black Enterprise
