Rip Van Wafels
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food manufacturing |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Rip Pruisken, Marco De Leon |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Stroopwafels (Rip Van Wafels), wafers (Rip Van Wafers), cookies, snacks |
Rip Van is a U.S.-based food manufacturer specializing in stroopwafels (marketed as Rip Van Wafels), wafers (known as Rip Van Wafers), cookies, and various other snack products. Their signature item, the stroopwafel, consists of two thin waffle layers connected by a sweet syrup filling, commonly referred to as syrup waffles.
History
The company was established in 2010 by Rip Pruisken, originally from Amsterdam, and Marco De Leon, both students at Brown University. Starting as a dormitory venture, their initial product—then named Van Wafels—was introduced through a Kickstarter campaign. During the early distribution phase, the founders personally handled deliveries across the country, often resting in a Volvo station wagon. Throughout their two years at Brown, they continuously improved both their marketing approach and product formulation.
The brand’s name is inspired by the character from the Washington Irving tale Rip Van Winkle. In 2016, the founders earned spots on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. By November 2020, Rip Van had achieved recognition as one of Amazon’s fastest-growing grocery brands.