Tupperware cosmetic sales boosted by Latin America

But although profit increase for the company as a whole was strong, profits for the cosmetic division was hit by restructuring in Mexico and continued investment in the booming South American market. The company, which manufactures and markets a range of consumer goods, including food and beverage containers and associated products, together with a portfolio of beauty and cosmetic brands mainly sold through direct sales channels, said that sales for its second quarter were up 7 percent in local currency and 12 percent in US dollars to reach $492.9m. Likewise, net income also showed a healthy rise, up from $25.2m in the corresponding quarter of 2006, to reach $35.5m, a leap of nearly 41 percent. One of the highlights was the company's beauty segment sales, with sales for the quarter up 8 percent to $179.9, which the company said was driven by the continued strength of the Mexican, Central American and South American markets. However, profits for the beauty division were impacted by a loss for the company's Latin American operations, with strong sales being counterbalanced by rising costs relating to increased investment aimed at expanding its footprint in the region. Net profits for the company's North American beauty division grew from $18.5m to $20.1, however, this performance was negatively impacted by the results for the company's other regions, which mainly comprise Latin America. Net losses in regions outside of the mainstay North American market came in at $3.4m, compared to losses of $2.5m for the same period a year earlier, an increase of 36 percent. The company said that profits had been hit by transition costs associated with its new production facility for the Fuller Mexico beauty business - now a part of the North American operations, together with investments to extend its reach in fast-growing South American markets such as Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia. "Tupperware Brands' new era as a global portfolio of direct selling companies has again this quarter led to sale sand profit ahead of our expectations, leading us to raise our full year sales and earnings guidance,"​ said Rick Goings, Tupperware Brands CEO. "Additionally, we are raising our long-term pre-tax return on sales target from 8-9 percent to 9-10 percent, beginning in 2008." ​