Tupperware South Africa sales hit by counterfeits again

Counterfeits again chipped away at Tupperware sales in South Africa but the company says it is regaining lost ground.

Last quarter the rise of fake Tupperware in South Africa drove a double-digit drop in sales of the genuine products. Third quarter sales were also down year-on-year, but Tupperware CEO Rick Goings is confident the firm is fighting back against fakes that have "flooded into the market."

Goings said: "I was pleased yesterday, our general counsel sent me a picture of...products that were confiscated by authorities [in South Africa]." Tupperware is making sure the products are ground up to stop them from leaking back out into the market over time.

While the seizure is encouraging, Goings said it is too early to put South Africa in the "victory column." A slight decline in sales marks a recovery from the second quarter but Tupperware is still feeling the effects of disruption to its operations in South Africa.