There’s an interesting article over at the Wall Street Journal about Tupperware’s growth in developing countries. Here’s an excerpt:
Tupperware Brands Corp. has come a long way from the 1950s kitchen demonstrations that helped make it a household name.
As proof of the distance that has emerged between the company and its iconic heritage: The U.S. market now accounts for just 14% of the company’s sales.
Today, Tupperware parties can be found in roughly 100 countries, with products including Korean "kimchi keepers" and kitchen cutlery. The company also sells beauty products via eight brands, which enjoy wide distribution in countries such as Mexico, South Africa and Uruguay.
"We’re not your June Cleaver, ‘Leave It To Beaver’ kind of company anymore," Chief Executive Rick Goings said in an interview.
Analysts generally expect a solid 2010 for Tupperware, as the direct seller stands to benefit from its sizable exposure to emerging markets, where it has in recent quarters seen double-digit local-currency sales growth. As the world begins crawling out of a crippling downturn, investors largely expect the next growth phase to be led by booming, but risky, emerging market economies. Since much of the world’s population is also concentrated in emerging markets, those markets could account for as much as 70% of sales in the near future, Mr. Goings said.
Source: Wall Street Journal
