Illinois Kitchens: A Beloved Product Just Filed For Bankruptcy

Before we get into which product has been forced to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy, I have to share with you some of the other inventions the creator of this product came up with before striking solid gold with a product that quickly became a household name.

The inventor's name was Earl Tupper, and in addition to his signature products, he also invented several other things that he hoped would make life better for people, according to a piece at TheAtlantic.com:

...he also dreamed up knitting needles, flour sifters, a creosote gun that would rid trees of gypsy moth eggs, non-drip ice cream cones, tampon cases, portable necktie racks, plastic eye shields to use while dying eyebrows, a toothpaste and shaving cream dispenser, a medical device for the non-surgical removal of the appendix, the "Kamoflage comb" (a nail file and comb masquerading as a fountain pen), and a boat powered by a giant fish.

Surprisingly enough, none of those things ever came close to the success and fame of the product line that Earl attached his name to: Tupperware. Although to be honest, who wouldn't want a boat powered by a giant fish?

That's right, no one.

Tupperware Has Been Around Since 1946, And At One Point, Nearly Every Home Kitchen In America Had At Least A Couple Of Pieces In It--Maybe You Still Do

Or, in the case of my mom's kitchen, lots and lots and lots of it. Tupperware parties were still a big thing when I was a little kid, and my mom went to so many of them. When she wasn't going to a Tupperware party she was hosting one, so our house had way too many an abundance of Tupperware pieces.

Here's what the parties looked like. Except, unless my memory fails, they were in color, not black and white:

Tupperware Has Filed For Bankruptcy Just A Few Months After Closing Their Last Remaining Plant In The United States

Things are not looking good for the company at the moment, according to their bankruptcy petition. Tupperware says they have over $1.2 billion in debts and around $680 million in assets. Their shares have dropped 75% in 2024.

ABCNews.go.com:

According to court documents published Tuesday, Tupperware currently employs more than 5,450 employees across 41 countries — and additionally partners with global sales force of over 465,000 consultants who sell products on a freelance basis in nearly 70 countries.

Tupperware President and CEO Laurie Ann Goldman says the company isn't going anywhere:

“Whether you are a dedicated member of our Tupperware team, sell, cook with, or simply love our Tupperware products, you are a part of our Tupperware family,” Goldman said in a statement. “We plan to continue serving our valued customers with the high-quality products they love and trust throughout this process.”