Inside, a d. At the other end of the scale, substitute-meat brands have made inroads into the fast-food industry: there are now Impossible Whoppers at Burger King and Beyond Meat sausage links in supermarket freezer aisles.
But perhaps no establishment has done as much as Slutty Vegan to challenge the perception that a vegan diet is by and for pleasureless people. Her entrepreneurial streak dates back to her youth in Baltimore, when she and a high-school friend would buy McChickens for a dollar and sell them to their classmates for two. But I do want you to understand that veganism can be healthier, even if it starts with burgers and fries.
After the flagship launched, near my home, in downtown Atlanta, in , I noticed customers arriving hours before the doors opened to wait in line in lawn chairs. Like most people, though, I went back in equal parts for the vegan food and for the vibes. According to one recent study, more than a quarter of Americans would choose meat substitutes if they were as cheap and as tasty as the real thing.
In reality, though, even the leading products remain more expensive than conventional meatβwhich is kept cheap by government subsidiesβand are not quite as delicious. Since a surge in sales several years ago, the plant-based-proteins business has stagnated. Both Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat are laying off employees.
Slutty Vegan, meanwhile, has continued to expand, despite the fact that its burgers cost several times more than a traditional fast-food sandwich. There are now seven locations in Georgia, including a new one in Truist Park, where the Atlanta Braves play, plus one in Birmingham, Alabama, and three in New York Cityβtwo brick and mortar and one so-called cloud kitchen, offering delivery only. Cole is using the investment to open a number of new Slutty Vegan locations before the end of the year, including the first drive-through, in Columbus, Georgia.
