Tupperware Brands Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the company announced in a statement on Tuesday.

"Whether you are a dedicated member of our Tupperware team, sell, cook with, or simply love our Tupperware products, you are a part of our Tupperware family. We plan to continue serving our valued customers with the high-quality products they love and trust throughout this process," said Laurie Ann Goldman, president and chief executive officer of Tupperware.

Tupperware was created in Leominster in the 1940s by local chemist Earl S. Tupper. At that time, Leominster was home to a booming plastics industry, including the Viscoloid Company, founded in 1901, which made toys out of pyroxylin plastic.

Leominster became known as the "Pioneer Plastics City," and the rest is history.

The kitchenware quickly caught on and the first Tupperware at-home party was held, laying the foundation for a direct sales model still used by companies like Mary-Kay and Avon.

By the 1950s, the "Tupper Seal," the airtight, leak-proof seal still used today was patented and the company was sold to Rexall Drugs Corporation, later Dart Industries. The company continued to expand globally through the at-home party sales pitch.

Now based in Florida, the company's bankruptcy announcement follows ongoing financial troubles.

"Over the last several years, the Company's financial position has been severely impacted by the challenging macroeconomic environment. As a result, we explored numerous strategic options and determined this is the best path forward. This process is meant to provide us with essential flexibility as we pursue strategic alternatives to support our transformation into a digital-first, technology-led company better positioned to serve our stakeholders," added Goldman.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Tupperware, created in Leominster in 1946, files for bankruptcy