Salaam Cola
Founded in late 2023 by 27-year-old British entrepreneur, Aykiz Shah, Salaam Cola has rapidly grown from a kitchen startup into a global soft drink brand. With just £160 in initial capital, Shah launched the company without outside investors, operating from her home.
Salaam Beverages Co is headquartered in Dublin and produced in Turkey. It is sweetened with cane sugar and comes in three variants: Original, 50% Less Sugar, and Seriously No Sugar.
In the first 18 months since its launch, the brand had sold nearly two billion cans in 16 countries, including the UK, Ireland, USA, Germany, Singapore, and Malaysia. Its rapid growth is driven by grassroots support, strong social media presence, and a clear mission.
10% of all profits go to humanitarian projects in Palestine, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon, including funding schools, medical aid, food programs, and infrastructure. Salaam Cola works with the UK-registered charity Muslims in Need and requires international partners to donate a portion of local sales to regional causes.
According to its website, Salaam Cola was “born as a protest against injustices in the Muslim world, particularly Palestine.” The name Salaam, meaning peace in Arabic, reflects the brand’s commitment to solidarity and ethical business.
Salaam Cola taps into a recent trend where soft drink producers aim to offer an ethical alternative to the American giants, including Gaza Cola (2023), One Cola (2023-2024), and Palestine Cola (2024).
