Beauty fails to catapult Tupperware sales

View Beauticontrol Profile

7/29/2006

Tupperware Brands, the US-based retailer of kitchenware, cosmetic and beauty products, has announced a disappointing second quarter in Europe and the US, further exacerbated by falling cosmetic and beauty sales.

Overall results were helped by a strong performance in Asia and the emerging markets, boosting sales by 37 per cent in the second quarter to reach $438.6m. But cosmetic and beauty sales were disappointing, despite the addition of the company's recently acquired International Beauty business, bought from Sara Lee last August for $556m...

...As was the trend throughout its North American business operations, the company reported that sales for its BeautiControl North America business were down 5 per cent. But despite this, profit was up 13 per cent, reflecting a higher gross margin and lower operating expenses compared to the corresponding quarter in 2005.

The company also said that it was making some changes to its executive line up, which will mean that the BeautiControl North America division will now be overseen by Simon Hemus, currently president of International Beauty.