Now in its second year, the Chief Restaurant Advisor role welcomes respected industry leader and restaurant operator Pinky Cole as its new “voice of the industry.”
Elevating the merchant perspective
The Chief Restaurant Advisor role was created in 2021 as part of a conscious effort to ensure that decision-makers at DoorDash have more visibility into the perspectives of restaurant operators. As an advisor and “voice of the industry,” the Chief Restaurant Advisor’s role is to help bridge potential gaps with restaurant partners by championing the local operator perspective into key conversations at DoorDash.
In an effort to bring new perspectives into the fold and after an incredible first year with Chef Stephanie Izard as our Chief Restaurant Advisor, we’re thrilled to welcome Pinky Cole, founder of Atlanta-based vegan hamburger chain Slutty Vegan, as our Chief Restaurant Restaurant Advisor for the next 12 months.
What the Chief Restaurant Advisor does
As Chief Restaurant Advisor, Pinky will regularly meet with DoorDash leaders, employees, and local restaurateurs. These interactions will include hosting industry roundtables, attending strategy meetings, and providing feedback on products and services that have yet to be rolled out broadly to restaurant partners.
Being a restaurateur is by far one of the most difficult jobs I’ve ever had... I am thrilled to be able to use this expertise to support the DoorDash team in decision making that will ultimately help this organization better connect with the people.
New this year, DoorDash is evolving the role to include a “Speed Dial” where select DoorDash executives will be able to discuss hot button industry topics that matter to its restaurant partners in real-time with Pinky.
From Dasher to restaurateur to Chief Restaurant Advisor
Before starting Slutty Vegan in Atlanta in 2018, Pinky worked as a Dasher in Los Angeles. “So serving as Chief Restaurant Advisor is a full-circle moment for me,” she says.
With Slutty Vegan, Pinky’s goal was to create a delicious, non-fussy vegan food that even meat-eaters would enjoy. What started as a single food truck in 2018 expanded into a brick and mortar location a year later. Today, Slutty Vegan has five locations in Atlanta and three more on the way, including one in Brooklyn.
“We’re confident that Pinky’s experience scaling Slutty Vegan from a ghost kitchen to a food truck to multiple brick and mortar locations will bring an invaluable perspective to our company – especially as we continue to see the resilient nature and entrepreneurial spirit of the industry,” notes Tom Pickett, Chief Revenue Officer at DoorDash.
For Pinky, the role of Chief Restaurant Advisor brings opportunity and optimism.
“Putting the pandemic aside, the restaurant industry is unpredictable,” she says. “I’m excited to get to work with DoorDash to ensure restaurants will have appropriate resources to succeed regardless of the hand that’s dealt.”
