By the Numbers: Putting a lid on it

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Tupperware, a household name in food storage, succumbs to slumping sales

Illustration by Krieg Barrie

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78

The number of years since Earl Tupper invented the first Tupperware products. His company, known for plastic food containers sold through direct marketing parties, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Delaware courtroom Sept. 17 after years of declining sales and mounting debt.

$818 million

The amount of debt, according to court documents, saddling Tupperware Brands. The institution’s lenders filed a motion in court to convert the Chapter 11 restructuring into a Chapter 7 liquidation.

8,500

The estimated number of patents held by Tupperware Brands for kitchen and home products that would transfer as part of any sale.

100+

The number of Tupperware pieces that make up a collection for the future Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, reflecting the ubiquity and cultural influence of Tupperware parties in the 20th century.

Business & Economy