Rippe Associates

What Rippe Associates does

Rippe Associates, Inc. is a privately held foodservice design and consulting firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a secondary office in Bloomington. Founded in 1981 by Bob Rippe, the firm was acquired by Steve Carlson in 2006 and in 2024 expanded its ownership team to four partners. The company provides master planning, foodservice design, management advisory services, and laundry design for commercial and institutional clients across six verticals: Education, Healthcare, Hospitality, Corporate, Civic + Justice, and Community. Core delivery relies on industry-standard AutoCAD and Revit platforms, 3D renderings for client visualization, and a proprietary internal equipment database that supports cost estimates within 1-3% of final bids. The firm's brand promise, 'Kitchens that Work™', is a registered trademark covering the full lifecycle from master planning through operational assessment and implementation guidance.

The business operates as a project-based B2B professional services firm with a 26-person team. Pricing is quote-based and engagement-specific, with no publicly disclosed rate cards. Go-to-market is overwhelmingly referral-driven, with over 80% of new work originating from existing clients and architect partners such as frk architects + engineers and HGA. Active leadership in industry bodies (FCSI, NACAS, NACUFS, SHFM, MAFSI) and project showcases in trade publications (Foodservice Equipment & Supplies, FCSI The Americas 2024 Project Showcase) serve as the primary demand-generation channels. Notable customers include Mayo Clinic, Elmhurst Hospital, Saint Francis Health System, Four Winds Casino, Jack Links, Great River Energy, and Rock Ridge High School, with healthcare design experience extending across 45 states.

The firm has completed more than 3,500 projects over 40 years of operation and reports an average employee tenure of 16 years, with ten team members exceeding 20 years of service. Recent strategic activity centers on ownership expansion, the integration of the Traction EOS operating system, and the addition of Laundry Design as a formal service line. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the firm has not raised external funding.

Name

Rippe Associates

Legal name

Rippe Associates, Inc.

Website

https://rippeassociates.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rippe Associates is a Minneapolis-based foodservice design and consulting firm serving education, healthcare, hospitality, corporate, civic, and community clients with master planning, design, and advisory services. A 26-person team delivers project-based engagements built on AutoCAD, Revit, and an internal equipment cost database.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foodservice Design and Consulting

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Contract Foodservice Management (Outsourced Catering) (THAFAIAH)

Keywords

• Foodservice design consulting
• Commercial kitchen design
• Foodservice master planning
• Healthcare foodservice design
• Institutional kitchen planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Foodservice Design Consulting: Professional consulting services for foodservice facility planning, design, operational assessments, and implementation guidance. Services include master planning, foodservice design, management advisory services, and laundry design across multiple market segments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rippe Associates is a B2B foodservice design and consulting firm that provides master planning, foodservice facility design, operational assessments, and implementation guidance for commercial and institutional kitchens. The company also offers management advisory services and laundry design across education, healthcare, hospitality, corporate, civic/justice, and community markets, delivering precise contract drawings, equipment selection, cost estimates, and 3D visualizations.

Product overview

Rippe Associates is a foodservice design consulting firm offering a unified suite of services centered on their 'Kitchens that Work™' approach. Their core offerings include Foodservice Design, Master Planning, Management Advisory Services, and Laundry Design. The company serves six primary markets: Education, Healthcare, Hospitality, Civic + Justice, Corporate, and Community. They differentiate through 3D renderings and visualizations that help clients visualize designs before construction. Rather than a software platform, Rippe delivers professional consulting services with a focus on operational practicality, budgetary compliance, and sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Foodservice Design Comprehensive foodservice facility design consulting covering kitchens, serveries, and foodservice spaces for commercial and non-commercial operations. Service includes precise drawings and specifications, equipment research and selection, and construction coordination for architects, owners, and operators.
• Master Planning Strategic planning services for foodservice operations, including site analysis, workflow optimization, and long-term operational assessments to guide clients from project conception through completion.
• Management Advisory Services Operational consulting and implementation guidance to help clients optimize foodservice performance and efficiency across their facilities.
• Laundry Design Design services for commercial and institutional laundry facilities, extending the firm's design expertise beyond the kitchen.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cost estimates typically come in within 1-3% of final bids
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NACAS (National Association of College Auxiliary Services)minorOthersProfessional membership organization for college auxiliary services professionals. Rippe Associates maintains membership to connect with higher education decision-makers and stay informed about industry trends.
• FCSI (Foodservice Consultants Society International)coreOthersLeading professional organization for foodservice design consultants. Steve Carlson chaired the FCSI Revit Task Force establishing industry standards. Christine Guyott serves as Chair of FCSI Worldwide Board of Trustees. The company participates in events and educational programs.
• NACUFS (National Association of College and University Foodservices)minorOthersProfessional organization for college and university foodservice professionals. Membership supports Rippe's higher education market segment and provides networking opportunities with institutional clients.
• SHFM (Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management)minorOthersProfessional organization for hospitality and foodservice management professionals. Membership provides access to corporate and healthcare foodservice decision-makers.
• MAFSI (Manufacturers' Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry)minorOthersTrade association for foodservice manufacturers' representatives. Christine Guyott participated in a thought-provoking panel discussion about the future of foodservice design at the MAFSI event.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The RWS Group: Foodservice and laundry design consultancy providing planning, design, and equipment specification for institutional and commercial foodservice operations — directly overlaps Rippe's foodservice and laundry design practices.
• Cini-Little International: Foodservice design and consulting firm providing master planning, kitchen design, and equipment specification for hospitality, healthcare, education, and corporate clients — directly comparable in scope, service model, and client verticals to Rippe Associates.
• Ricca Design Studios: Specialty foodservice design and consulting firm serving hospitality, healthcare, education, and corporate markets with similar master planning and design services — a direct competitor in foodservice consulting.
• Foodservice Design Associates: Foodservice facility planning and design consultancy serving institutional and commercial clients across healthcare, education, and hospitality — comparable in service offering and target verticals to Rippe.
• Herschman Architects: Specialized architecture and design firm with a dedicated foodservice and retail design practice serving healthcare, hospitality, and institutional clients — directly comparable service offering.
• JME Hospitality: Foodservice design and consulting firm specializing in hospitality, healthcare, and institutional foodservice facility planning — comparable client base and service mix to Rippe Associates.

Broad incumbents

• Shive-Hattery: Architecture and engineering firm with foodservice design capability serving healthcare, education, and corporate clients — broader AEC firm with overlapping foodservice design work.
• HGA (Hammel, Green and Abrahamson): Large architecture and engineering firm with an integrated foodservice design practice serving healthcare, education, and cultural markets — Rippe is referenced as a partner by HGA leadership, indicating collaboration; broader scope but overlapping healthcare foodservice capability.
• Payette: Architecture firm with foodservice design capability for healthcare and institutional clients — broader AEC practice but overlapping healthcare foodservice design services.

Others

• Foodservice Equipment & Supplies Magazine (FE&S): Industry trade publication covering foodservice design and equipment — not a competitor but a key ecosystem participant that recognizes Rippe's project awards and publishes their team's thought leadership.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rippeassociates
• Facebookfacebook.com/RippeAssociates
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rippeassociates
• Instagraminstagram.com/rippeassociates

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rippe Associates