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| Industry | Retail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2011; 15 years ago (2011) inPortland, Oregon |
| Founders |
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Number of locations | 50 (2025)[1][2] |
| Products | Ice Cream |
| Website | saltandstraw |
Salt & Straw is an Americanice cream company based inPortland, Oregon. The chain was founded in 2011 by cousins Kim Malek and Tyler Malek.[3] As of 2025[update], Salt & Straw has locations in seven states.
Salt & Straw began as a food cart in theAlberta Arts District of Portland, Oregon. Three months later the company opened its firstbrick-and-mortar location. Since opening in 2011, Salt & Straw has opened other locations in the Portland area and offers a home delivery service throughout the US.[4] In order to ship ice cream nationwide delivery, the company packs its ice cream indry ice andkraft paper.[5]
In 2014, US Vice PresidentJoe Biden made a surprise visit to Salt & Straw with US SenatorJeff Merkley.[6]
Salt & Straw is partially owned by film star and wrestlerDwayne Johnson.[7] It has locations in bothDisneyland andDisney World.[1] Salt & Straw is also the exclusive ice cream partner ofAlaska Airlines.[8] In 2022, Salt & Straw introduced edible perfume as an ice cream enhancement, which can be sprayed onto scoops.[9][10]
In May 2025,Food & Wine reported that Salt & Straw’s annual Upcycled Food Series has now diverted over 40,000 lb (18,100 kg) of food waste since its launch in April 2022. This includes ingredients like date seed coffee substitutes andwhey-based "wheyskey."[11]
Co-founder Tyler Malek wrote a book,America’s Most Iconic Ice Creams released in April 2025, in which he writes about his philosophy behind ice cream making.[12] The book notes that Malek and the scoop shops are known for classic-feeling flavors like double fold vanilla (plus some incredible but bonkers-sounding flavors like Gruyere and tomato custard tart) and the book explores that methodology.[13]
Salt & Straw has locations throughout seven states.[1] As of 2025, locations exist in:
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Since opening, Salt & Straw has gained national media attention for its exotic ice cream flavors, some of which are seasonal. Flavors includingBone marrow with Bourbon Smoked Cherries andArbequina Olive Oil, are one reason Salt and Straw has been included on lists of America's best ice cream.[17][18][19][20][21]
In 2015, Salt & Straw partnered each shop with different elementary schools to create flavors designed by children. Stop, Guac & Roll (avocado-vanilla ice cream with cinnamon-sugar-dusted fried tortillas) and Honey Bear (vanilla custard with chocolate honeycomb candy and edible glitter) were two of the flavors created.[22]
In 2016, Salt & Straw developed new flavors fromfood waste: edible by-products of the food production process. New flavors were made with overripe strawberries, spent brewing grains and near-expiration date vegan mayonnaise. Proceeds from the sales of the featured flavors from its Portland stores ($3,000) were donated toUrban Gleaners, a Portland nonprofit. Salt & Straw creates little food waste or scraps, because its products are frozen. When an item is no longer offered on its menu, any leftover ice cream is donated to a nonprofit.[23]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
45°31′44.3″N122°41′54.3″W / 45.528972°N 122.698417°W /45.528972; -122.698417
