KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Before Disney in Central Florida, there was Tupperware.
The iconic American brand was founded in Orlando back in 1946. The colorful plastic containers gave women a chance to make money through direct sales.
The 78-year-old company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week as it tries to reorganize its finances. The company is around $1 billion in debt.
The company has also created thousands of jobs for people here in Central Florida and around the world. But now the company claims they have had a huge decline in sales, as consumers move away from the direct sales system and become more eco-conscious.
Author Bob Kealing wrote a book called “Life of the Party,” about founder Earl Tupper and top sales leader Brownie Wise.
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“It was the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, many years before Walt Disney ever came around,” Kealing said. “So, there’s a special attachment here in Central Florida to this iconic product. And the home party company that started here in 1951.”
Tupperware has evolved and grown over the years. Their large headquarters are on Orange Blossom Trail in Kissimmee, where some employees here are still working despite news of the bankruptcy. But from the looks of it, not many. A sign on the door said the museum inside which is normally open to the public is closed until Oct. 1.
“It became synonymous with vacuum-sealed products. And after a certain amount of time, Earl Tucker’s patent expired, and the product wasn’t so revolutionary anymore. And there were other companies that did what the Tupperware folks felt were knockoff products,” Kealing said.
Tupperware plans to continue operating during bankruptcy proceedings and is working to restructure the company to be more “digital-first.”
“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,” said Tupperware President and CEO Laurie Ann Goldman in a statement. “We plan to continue serving our valued customers with the high-quality products they love and trust throughout this process.”
However, some of the company’s lenders want the company’s bankruptcy petition to be dismissed, or converted to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which would liquidate the company.
Information from the Associated Press contributed to this story.
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