Anele Mdoda, one of South Africa’s most beloved media personalities, has sparked a debate after claiming that ‘you lot’ who don’t cook were responsible for the collapse of Tupperware.
The long-standing food storage brand filed for bankruptcy on Tuesday, September 17, following years of financial struggle.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), a sarcastic Mdoda did not hold back, blaming people for "killing" Tupperware.
“You guys killed Tupperware!!!! It's you because you don't cook anymore. I am so disappointed in you lot," she tweeted, stirring reactions from her followers.
Mdoda’s comments came just days after Tupperware’s President and CEO, Laurie Ann Goldman, announced that the company had been severely impacted by the tough global economy.
"Over the past several years, the company’s financial position has been severely affected by the challenging macroeconomic environment," said Goldman, confirming the bankruptcy filing.
While Mdoda pointed to people’s lack of cooking as a factor in Tupperware’s downfall, social media users offered their own theories.
One user, @SoulFairy3, joked, "We promise we cook, but we have to buy ingredients in Cyril’s economy. Our Tupperware is ice cream containers only."
@TebogoTheScribe posted, "Too many people were stealing our Tupperware dishes, from elders to children, so it kinda killed the business, IMO."
@MakiMarish felt that the brand had failed to keep up with the times, "Tupperware killed itself. It should have moved with the times, and created a disposable container line or changed their go to market strategy.
“i.e not depending on housewives going door to door with catalogues. Home choice & Table Charm are next. A 1st year business student could have figured out that the Tupperware business model was old.“
Mdoda’s post also opened a conversation about the South African economy.
@alpha01fx said, "Talk to your leaders. Btw during inflation, no rich person gets affected by it. Ever. And never will. Infact they become richer. I know you know that.
“There's no intelligent South African who'll include such things In their budget when the economy is this bad.”
Another user, @LethaboMala, tweeted, "lol it’s the economy and also most companies in SA price things ridiculously even when they see how bad things are.
“And SA people don’t mind downgrading hey, we will go buy Addis no problem.“
@Petitegalsummer said, "A generation worldwide has lost the culture, but, good thing our mothers and aunties have enough Tupperware to last us the millennium.“
IOL