The search is on! The best Black-owned restaurant will be crowned and win a residency in Vegas.
Pepsi Dig In is back with its Restaurant Royalty program, an initiative supporting Black-owned restaurants. This year, they’ve enlisted Pinky Cole Hayes, the powerhouse behind Slutty Vegan, to help spotlight the nation’s top Black-owned eateries. Diners can now nominate their favorite spots and unlock incredible rewards for both themselves and the restaurants.
Pinky Cole Hayes, CEO and Founder of Slutty Vegan, has partnered with Pepsi Dig In to bring her expertise and passion to the program. Cole Hayes shared, “Slutty Vegan wouldn’t be where it is today without its community of fans. From the start they’ve been dedicated and loyal in supporting Slutty Vegan’s journey from a food truck to a multi-city restaurant chain and $100 million brand. That’s why I’m thrilled to be partnering with Pepsi Dig In, a platform that has been there for me since the beginning, to inspire even more foodies to be vocal about their favorite restaurants and help crown them Restaurant Royalty."
Courtesy of Pepsi
Nominate Your Favorite Black-Owned Restaurant and Win Prizes
Foodies have until June 30 to nominate their favorite Black-owned restaurant at DigInShowLove.com. This year’s prizes include culinary experiences across the country, such as a trip to football’s biggest game in New Orleans in 2025, an intimate chef’s table experience in NYC, and roundtrip JetBlue travel certificates.
Pepsi Dig In Restaurant Royalty Residency in Las Vegas
The fan-nominated restaurant that wins will be featured in the Pepsi Dig In Restaurant Royalty Residency in Las Vegas, courtesy of MGM Resorts International. Additionally, the winning restaurant will receive one-on-one mentoring from Pinky Cole Hayes, who shares the mission to overcome barriers faced by Black restaurateurs.
Amplifying Black-Owned Restaurants
Scott Finlow, Chief Marketing Officer of PepsiCo Global Foodservice, said, “Pepsi Dig In has been a proud supporter of Slutty Vegan since the beginning, and part of the restaurant’s success is a testament to the platform’s mission to help grow the businesses it backs. Programs like Restaurant Royalty are an integral step in that process because it rallies restaurants’ existing fans, engages new ones, and leverages the Pepsi brand’s network and scale to help make a long-term impact."
This year, the top five nominated restaurants will also receive business resources such as point-of-sale hardware from Square, digital tools, $4,000 in Yelp digital media credits, and promotion by Pepsi Dig In and EatOkra.
Nominate Your Favorite Restaurants
Browse VegOutMag.com to discover Black-owned vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants and nominate your favorites at DigInShowLove.com. For more details, check out PepsiDigIn.com.
