Tupperware Brands announced it will be closing its South Carolina factory — the company’s last remaining plant in the US — and laying off more than 100 workers.
The iconic plastic food container company will shift all of its manufacturing operations to Mexico, where many of its products sold in the US and Canada are already made.
The shuttering of the facility in the small town of Hemingway will result in the layoffs of 148 employees, according to the company, which is headquartered in Orlando.
Layoffs are set to begin in September with a closure date scheduled for January 14, 2025, WCBD reported.
“It’s important to note this decision is not a reflection of the performance of the Hemingway team,” Tupperware told the outlet in a statement.”
“We appreciate each of our valued team members and the many years of service they have dedicated to our salesforce and to the Company.”
The Hemingway plant, Tupperware’s sole manufacturing site in the US, was sold in 2023.
Eligible employees will be offered severance packages and early retirement. The company also pledged to help connect them with other companies for employment.
Tupperware was founded in 1946 by Massachusetts chemist Earl Tupper, who developed the plastic containers to help families save money on costly food waste, according to the company website.
The Hemingway facility was opened in 1976 amid high demand for their productions.
However, the 77-year-old company has fallen on hard times as of late.
Earlier this year, the brand warned that it had “substantial doubt” it could survive for another year and forecasted inadequate liquidity to fund operations, in a filing with the SEC.
Tupperware blamed ongoing material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting, its challenging financial condition and significant attrition resulting in resource and skill set gaps for multiple delays in its annual report filings.
It was also at risk of being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange after it delayed its 10K filing for 2022, then filed a NT10-K on Friday to notify that it will delay the 10-K filing for FY 2023.
It plans to complete its due processes and file its 10K for 2023 “as promptly as possible,” the company said, but added that “there can be no assurance with respect to the timing of completion of the filing.”
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