Portland, Ore.-based ice cream brand Salt & Straw — known for its unusual flavors like olive oil and strawberry honey balsamic — announced a major investment from actor and former WWE star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and business partner and producer Dany Garcia. Johnson and Garcia invested an undisclosed amount in the 20-location ice cream shop, and will act as creative partners and strategic advisors for the future growth of the brand.
"Salt & Straw's proven commitment to connecting with local communities through their storytelling and creativity make this strategic investment a natural fit," Garcia said in a media statement. "We're thrilled to provide our expertise to build upon their forward-thinking and disruptive approach that has delighted consumers and inspired meaningful brand experiences.”
Both business partners have been fans of the quirky ice cream brand for a long time and Johnson even posted recently on Instagram about his favorite cheat “meal:” a stack of pancakes and three pints of Salt & Straw ice cream.
This is not the first major investment news Salt & Straw has announced this year. In May, the ice cream company announced a $4.2 million infusion from two investors: a $2 million investment from Oregon Venture Fund to fund their fledgling artisan food incubator program, and another $2.2 million raised by individual investors as a sidecar. The products of graduates from the culinary incubator are often used in the ice cream itself.
To celebrate the newly solidified business partnership with Johnson and Garcia, Salt & Straw is launching a limited-edition holiday pack of “Dwanta Claus” flavors inspired by The Rock.
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