WMF and FMI partnerships to introduce powerful Ripples customer engagement platform to Japan’s growing coffee market

Intuitive technology enhances simple drinks at the touch of a button

6^th March 2018 – Ripples Inc., the innovative marketing platform for powerful and dynamic customer engagement, has announced two key partnerships which see Ripples launched in Japan for the first time. WMF, the leading global provider of professional coffee equipment for hotels and the Food and Beverage industry, and FMI, makers of the CAFE-TRONE fully automated coffee machines, recently showcased Ripples at HOTERES Tokyo (Feb 20^th-23rd).

The Ripple Maker is a revolutionary device that prints beautiful high-resolution images and messages directly on to any foam-topped drink, such as cappuccino, Nitro-brewed coffee, as well as foam-topped cocktails, at the touch of a button using Ripples patented coffee extract as ink. The Wi-Fi connected counter-top sized device features a highly intuitive and easy to use touchscreen system, making Ripples a highly convenient and versatile way to transform a simple drink into a memorable experience that keeps customers coming back for more.

Ripples has already demonstrated its power to enhance customer engagement for some of the world’s leading brands, including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott, Marco Polo Hotels, Shangri-La, The Four Seasons, Starwood, Lavazza, Twitter and Microsoft.

Mr. Masayoshi Hattori, Japan President, Professional Coffee Machines WMF Group, says: “Ripples offers a compelling new way to build connections with patrons, that has already proved successful for many brands and hospitality businesses. As an excellent complement to our range of coffee equipment, Ripples will no doubt have a significant impact on revenues and customer loyalty for Japanese hospitality businesses.”

Nobuhiko Tomishima, President, FMI, says “Ripples is an exciting product for the Japanese market, and we believe it will have huge appeal for our customers. The Ripple Maker is very easy and efficient to use, making it perfect for adding an extra special touch of creativity to any beverage. Japanese consumers will love receiving their daily cappuccino enhanced with a beautiful design that is personalised for them.”

Yossi Meshulam, Ripples Inc. Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, says “We’re thrilled to be working with highly respected names in the hospitality and catering industry to expand our operations into Japan for the first time. These partnerships will help us to reach a very special market that has enormous potential for Ripples, especially with the growing numbers of young coffee consumers.”

While Ripples has been enjoyed by a small number of hospitality businesses across Asia, this is the first time Ripples has been available in Japan. According to Euromonitor research, Japan is the number one coffee drinking country in APAC, accounting for 30% of overall coffee sales.