Exhibit 99



                                    FOR: Home Products International, Inc.

                           APPROVED BY:  James R. Tennant, Chairman & CEO
                                         Home Products International, Inc.
                                         (773) 890-1010
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                               CONTACT:  Investor Relations:
                                         James Winslow, Executive VP & CFO
                                         Home Products International, Inc.
                                         (773) 890-1010



           HOME PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO SELL
              PLASTICS INC. DIVISION TO A & E PRODUCTS GROUP LP,
                      AN AFFILIATE OF TYCO INTERNATIONAL


      Chicago, IL, June 7, 2001 -  Home Products International, Inc.  (Nasdaq
 SmallCap: HPII) ("HPI"), a  diversified housewares company, announced  today
 that it has entered into  a definitive agreement with  A & E Products  Group
 LP, an affiliate of Tyco International,  to sell its commercial  servingware
 unit, Plastics Inc.   Terms  were not released  pending the  closing of  the
 transaction which  will  occur  upon the  receipt  of  customary  regulatory
 approvals.  The  Company stated that  all of the  proceeds will  be used  to
 retire debt.

      In announcing  the  transaction, HPI  Chairman  and CEO  James  Tennant
 explained the reasons for the divestiture:  "This important step allows  HPI
 to very significantly reduce our  debt load which will  let us focus all  of
 our resources on our core retail business."

      After the closing,  the Company expects  to hold a  conference call  to
 review the specifics of this transaction.



 Home Products  International, Inc.  is  an international  consumer  products
 company specializing in the manufacture and marketing of quality diversified
 housewares products.   The Company  sells its  products to  all the  largest
 national retailers.

 Some  ofthe statements made  in this press  release are forward-looking  and
 concern  the  company's future  growth,  product  development,  markets  and
 competitive position.   While management will  make its best  efforts to  be
 accurate in making these forward-looking statements, any such statements are
 subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause HPI's actual results  to
 vary  materially.  These  risks  include  market  risks  such  as  increased
 competition for both  the company and  its end users  and changes in  retail
 distribution channels; economic risks; financial risks such as  fluctuations
 in  the price of raw  materials,  future liquidity  and access  to debt  and
 equity  markets.  Should  one  or  more  of  these  risks  or  uncertainties
 materialize, actual  results may  vary  materially from  those  anticipated,
 expected or projected.  The company  undertakes no obligation to  update any
 such factors  or to  announce the  results of  any revision  to any  of  the
 forward-looking statements  contained herein  to  reflect future  events  or
 development.