Friday, March 21, 2025
TOPPAN Holdings Inc., a global leader in printing and authentication solutions, has acquired Selinko, a pioneering European company specializing in NFC authentication solutions for luxury and spirits brands.
A Strategic Move to Tackle Authenticity and Traceability Challenges in Luxury and Spirits Industries
Selinko has made a name for itself as a key player in digital authentication, with its NFC technology already embraced by over 45 high-end brands in the luxury, spirits, and lifestyle sectors. The company has honed its expertise in creating tailored solutions that provide customers with an immersive authentication experience.
This acquisition is a key step in TOPPAN Group’s digital transformation strategy. With more than 120 years of security printing expertise, TOPPAN has developed advanced capabilities in designing NFC and RFID tags that cater to a wide range of products, containers, and packaging. By integrating Selinko’s innovative authentication platform with TOPPAN’s cutting-edge NFC tag and RFID chip technologies, the acquisition forms a synergy that will enable the development of global solutions for digital authentication and traceability, including in key markets such as China. The partnership will bolster IoT and smart packaging services for Europe’s luxury sector while fueling expansion into Japan, China, and ASEAN markets.
The Luxury and Spirits Market Faces Pressing Issues
Rising consumer demand for transparency, stricter regulations, and an increase in counterfeiting have placed immense pressure on the sector. Counterfeiting alone has cost luxury brands €4 billion* and European wine and spirits companies €1.3 billion, leading to a loss of over 20,000 jobs, particularly in Spain, France, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
A Revolutionary Solution with Real-World Applications
The partnership between Selinko’s expertise in software and TOPPAN’s hardware capabilities will create customized solutions, including:
- Unbreakable and tamper-proof authentication systems to combat market diversion and counterfeiting, safeguarding the value of authentic products.
- Comprehensive product traceability, from production to sale and recycling, in line with regulations like the upcoming Digital Product Passport, European GDPR, and the China Data Protection Act.
- Enhanced customer engagement for luxury brands through interactive, personalized services and content.
- Innovative sustainability initiatives, extending product life cycles with long-term warranties and securing the second-hand market through digital ownership certificates.
A shared vision: strengthening customer trust in brands
“With Selinko, brands can better control and optimize their entire supply chain, from the beginning of production to after-sales. Our authentication solution protects the unique expertise of luxury brands by guaranteeing the authenticity of each piece and preserving the value and excellence of their creations. It effectively defends them against counterfeiting. Our solution also allows them to showcase their story and expertise by sharing their creative process with their customers. They can thus highlight their artisanal techniques and communicate directly on the uniqueness of each product.” André Ghighi, Sales Director at Selinko.
Governance and Management
With Selinko’s integration into the TOPPAN Group, Patrick Eischen, the founder of Selinko, will continue to drive the company’s product vision and expertise. The current team remains intact and is expanding, including with the recent opening of a new office in Paris.
“This acquisition represents a major milestone in our digitalization strategy. Selinko’s expertise in authentication technologies, combined with our long-standing design and integration know-how and global manufacturing capabilities in RFID product development, enables us to offer a unique global solution to address the authenticity and traceability challenges of luxury and spirits brands.” – Mr. Hiroki Shibatani, Director and Executive Vice President of TOPPAN Digital Inc., the central company under TOPPAN Holdings that drives digital transformation solutions across the Group.
