Pinky Cole Hayes, 37, founder of the popular plant-based burger chain Slutty Vegan, has regained ownership of her company following a series of personal and professional challenges that tested her resilience.
The Atlanta-based entrepreneur and author revealed that she temporarily lost control of the business earlier this year after financial struggles prompted a global restructuring of the brand. Cole Hayes told People magazine that Slutty Vegan’s corporate overhead had ballooned to nearly $10 million, forcing her to step away.
“On March 28th, 2025, I officially bought my company back,” she captioned an Instagram post. “Slutty Vegan is mine again …and this time, we’re doing it bigger, bolder, and better.”
“I was chasing something that I couldn’t catch for so many reasons,” the 37-year-old told the publication. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced.”
The restructuring took place on Feb. 13, and although she did not disclose the buyer at the time, Cole Hayes worked behind the scenes on a plan to reclaim the business. On March 28, she officially repurchased Slutty Vegan under a new entity called “Ain’t Nobody Coming to See You, Otis LLC,” referencing a well-known line from the 1998 film The Temptations.
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The comeback follows a near-death experience in 2024 when a mattress struck Cole Hayes’ windshield while driving 70 mph on an Atlanta highway. The incident, which she described as something out of Final Destination, gave her a renewed perspective on life and business.
“I have a newfound perspective on the things that I prioritize now after that accident,” she said.
Cole Hayes, who built Slutty Vegan into a cultural phenomenon with lines wrapping around blocks and celebrity co-signs, says she is now focused on what she calls “Slutty Vegan 2.0.” The next phase of the brand includes plans to expand globally, with eyes on new markets in Dubai and Africa. She’s also developing a new hospitality company with her husband, Derrick Hayes, founder of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks.
“People love Slutty Vegan because they love me,” she said. “And I know that people are going to support and back me in whatever it is that I do.”
