GB2449886A

GB2449886A - Transit and display package and blank

Info

Publication number: GB2449886A
Application number: GB0710851A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Rae Cherrie
Original assignee: United Biscuits Ltd
Current assignee: United Biscuits Ltd
Priority date: 2007-06-06
Filing date: 2007-06-06
Publication date: 2008-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 2027-06-06
Also published as: GB2449886B; GB0710851D0

Abstract

A transit and display retail ready package 2 and a blank for assembly into such a package is disclosed. The blank has a tubular structure comprising four panels separated from adjacent panels by fold lines that can be formed into the package 2, the assembled package 2 having a base 5, a top 7 and four side faces including display faces 4 and non-display faces 6, wherein a line of weakness 50 extends from the top to the bottom of a display face 4 and allows separation of a removable section 13, 23, 24, 44 from a retained base section 12, 22. The removable portion also extends partially into the base at 15 (and 35, Fig. 1). The base is formed with interlocking flaps and is preferably of a crash lock type.

Description

kpackage blank and a package

Background of the Invention

The present invention concerns blanks for assembly into packages. In particular, but not exclusively, this invention concerns blanks for assembly into retail ready packages. The invention also concerns the assembled packages.

A retail ready package (alternatively known as a shelf ready package) is a package for containing a plurality of consumer items that may be placed directly on a retailer's shelf displaying the contents. Typically, the contents of the package are consumer items in particular containers of food items such as packets of snack foods, packets of biscuits, tins of biscuits, boxes of cake products, tins of confectionary and the like and the customer selects one or more of the consumer items from the package.

An existing retail ready package has a base, a top and four side faces. One of the side faces is a display face that includes a removable part defined by a line of weakness.

Once the removable part is removed, at least some of the contents of the package are visible through the open part of the display face. Access to the contents is also obtained through the open part. Not all of the display face is removed, with a sufficient part of the display face remaining to retain the contents in the package. In such retail ready packages the removable part of the display face does not extend to the bottom of the display face, there being a strip of retained package material across the lower part of the display face. The retained strip is typically about 70 mm in height. A problem with existing packages of that type is that the strip of retained package material across the lower part of the display face obscures from view some of the contents of the package and impedes ready access to items in the bottom of the package.

In a further type of retail ready package, the display face of the package is removable by tearing the package along lines of weakness that extend up the side panels of the package and across the top of the package. Thus, the entire display face together with part of the adjacent side faces and part of the top of the package is removed. A problem with such packages is that the package that remains after the removable part has been removed lacks strength. Also it is not possible for two side faces of the package to be removed. Furthermore, the torn edges of the package at the sides and the top are visible once the removable part has been torn off which is unsightly.

The present invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a blank for assembly into a retail ready package having a base, a top and four side faces, the blank comprising four panels separated from adjacent panels by fold lines, wherein at least one of said panels comprises a side portion for forming a display face of the package when assembled, and wherein the blank comprises a removable section defined by a line of weakness, characterised in that the removable section extends from an upper region of, and advantageously from the top of, said side portion of said at least one panel for forming a display face to the bottom of said side portion of said at least one panel for forming a display face, such that when the package is assembled, a part of the display face that extends from at least the top of the display face to at least the bottom of the display face is removable. The invention also provides a package assembled from the blank of the invention. The invention further provides a retail ready package having a base, a top and four side faces wherein at least one of the side faces is a display face that includes a removable part and a retained part, the removable part extending from the top of the display face to the bottom of the display face. The invention further provides a method of displaying consumer items on a shop shelf comprising: placing the consumer items in a retail ready package having a base, a top and four side faces, wherein at least one side face is a display face that includes a removable part and a retained part, the removable part extending from an upper region of, and advantageously the top of, the display face to the bottom of the display face; removign the removal part of the retail ready package; and placing the retail ready package on the shop shelf. The retained part of a face of a package is the part that remains once the removable part has been removed and a retained section of a package is the portion of the entire package that remains once a removable section has been removed.

In use the package of the invention contains a plurality of consumer items, for example a plurality of food products. Preferably, the package is dimensioned and configured to contain a multiplicity of food product containers, for example packets, boxes and tins of food products such as biscuits, snack products (including but not limited to crisps, fabricated snacks including corn chips and puffed corn snacks, nuts and the like), cereal bars, cake products, confectionary and crackers. The package of the invention is particularly suited to containing packets and boxes such as packets of biscuits. For example, the package of the invention may be suited to containing elongate packets and boxes such as elongate packets of biscuits. In particular the package of the invention may be dimensioned and configured for containing a multiplicity of elongate containers such that the longitudinal axes of the containers are parallel and extend across the removable section of the package.

An advantage of embodiments of the invention described above is that, once the removable section is removed, the assembled package has an open part extending from the upper region of the display face to the bottom of the display face.

Accordingly, the contents of the bottom of the package are visible when the removable part of the pack age has been removed. Furthermore, the contents of the bottom of the package may easily be removed when the removable part has been removed. In contrast to the packages of the prior art, embodiments of the invention do not have a strip of retained package material when the removable section has been removed from the assembled package. The retention of a part of the display face once the removable section has been removed may provide mechanical strength to the front part of the package.

Advantageously, the removable part of the display face that extends from at least the upper region of the display face to at least the bottom of the display face is substantially central to the width of the display face. Preferably the removable part of the display face is symmetrical about a vertical line through the centre of the width of the display face. Advantageously, the blank is arranged so that at least a part of the display face that is adjacent to the side edges of the display face are retained once the removable section has been removed. Preferably, the retained parts of the display face that are adjacent to the side edges extend from the bottom of the face to at least 20%, more preferably to at least 50% and especially to at least 60% of the height of the face. Advantageously, the retained parts of the display face that are adjacent to the side edges extend from the bottom of the package to substantially all the height of the retained section of the entire assembled package. Preferably, the retained parts of the display face that are adjacent to the side edges extend from the bottom of the face to at least 70%, more preferably to at least 80% and especially to at least 90% of the height of the retained section of the assembled package. The removal of the central portion of the display face and the retention of parts at the side edges may provide the retained section of the package with sufficient mechanical strength to hold the contents of the package once the removable section has been removed. The higher the retained the retained parts of the display face that are adjacent to the side edges extend from the base of the assembled package, the more mechanical strength they provide and/or the more of the contents of the package they may assist in holding.

Said at least one panel may include a base portion for fonning at least a part of the base of the package when assembled, the side and base portions being separated by a fold line. Advantageously, either the removable section extends into the base portion of said at least one panel or, more preferably, part of the base portion of said at least one panel that is adjacent to the removable part of the side portion is cut away, such that, when assembled, a part of the base that is adjacent to the removable part of the first face is also removable or is cut away. It will be appreciated that, where a part of the base portion is cut away, any resulting aperture in the assembled package must be sufficiently small that the contained items do not fall out. Preferably any part of any portions of any of the panels that form the base of the package when assembled that overlies the removable or cut away part of the base portion of said at least one panel is also removable or, more preferably, is cut away. An advantage of embodiments of the invention described immediately above is that, when the removable section has been removed, the front edge of the base of the retained part of the package is set back from the display face. Thus, when the retained part of the package is on a shelf, the front edge of the base is less visible than if it extended to the display face. A further advantage of the embodiments described above is that the removable or, especially, cut away part of the base of the package facilitates the user in gripping the lower part of the removable part of the display face of the assembled package. Thus, the user (that is the person who removes the removable section of the package to enable access to the contents of the package) may easily remove the removable section by pulling upwards and outwards on the removable part of the display face.

Advantageously, a part of the removable section of the side portion for forming a display face that is adjacent to the lower edge of the side portion for forming a display face of the package when assembled is cut away. An advantage of embodiments of the invention arranged in that way is that, when the package is assembled, the user may insert a finger into the cut away part adjacent to the lower edge of the display face to facilitate griping of the removable part of the display face. Thereby, the user may be facilitated in removing the removable section of the assembled package.

Advantageously, at least a part of the removable section extends into all four panels such that when assembled the top of the package is removable together with the removable part of the display face of the package. Preferably, the removable section extends into the portions of all panels that form the four side faces of the package when assembled such that at least a part of the side face of all four sides is removable together with the top of the package and the removable part of the display face of the package. An advantage of the embodiments so constructed is that the entire top of the package can be removed together with the removable part of the display face thus preparing the package for placing on a shelf in one operation. Removing a part of all four side faces of the pack has been found to be a simple way of providing for the removal of the top of the assembled package. Such an embodiment may be preferred to an arrangement in which a line of weakness extends to the top surface of the package where the top portions of the panels of the blank overlap in the assembled package as it is more difficult to tear overlapping panels than a single panel.

Furthermore, it is desirable for the line of weakness to circumscribe the entire circumference of the package crossing a minimal number of joins between panels as tears in lines of weakness are more easily propagated through fold lines separating adjacent panels than across a seam where two panels are fastened together, from one overlapping panel to another and are not easily propagated through parts of increased thickness where panels overlap.

Advantageously the blank is a one piece blank. Blanks made from a single piece of material may be simpler and therefore cheaper to produce than blanks made from more than one piece of material. Blanks made from a single piece of material may be formed into packages that involve fewer joins through which tears in lines of weakness do not propagate easily. Preferably, the four panels are arranged in a line and the two end panels are attached to one another and a fold line separates the two panels. Two end panels are advantageously joined by affixing a flap, for example, by glue, staples or the like, that is adjacent on one of the end panels to the other end panel to form the blank into a tube. The two end panels are thus attached to each other and a fold line separating the flap to the adjacent panel thus separates the two panels.

Preferably the blank is stamped from a single piece material. The blank is preferably manufactured by die cutting a single piece of material from a larger piece. The cut out parts where present, may be cut out in the same operation as the cutting of the outline of the blank or in a separate cutting process. In embodiments in which part of the line of weakness include cuts that extend right through the material of the blank including a perforated line and/or an extensive continuous line cut through the material, they may be cut out in the same operation as the cutting of the outline of the blank or in a separate cutting process.

Suitable materials for the blank of the invention and the assembled package include paper boards and plastics materials. Fluted or corrugates materials are preferred. The materials may be laminated materials with layers of different materials or materials of different construction. For example, the blank may have a paper board base with a surface layer of metallic foil. Preferably, the blank is of a fluted paper board material such as corrugated paperboard or sometimes termed corrugated cardboard. Paper board is advantageous as it is more environmentally acceptable, being recyclable or compostable, and can itself be constructed from recycled materials.

Advantageously, the blank can be formed into an assembled package that has a base comprising interlocking flaps or overlapping flaps that are held together by an adhesive bond formed between said overlapping flaps. Preferably, the base of the assembled package comprises interlocking flaps and more preferably is a crash lock base. Preferably, the base remains rigid due to the mechanical strength of the interlocking flaps. Alternatively or additionally, the flaps may be bonded together with glue, staples or the like. The flaps that form the base may be pre-glued prior to assembly of the base. It has been found that such base designs enable a package to be constructed having a rigid base that remain rigid when a removable section that extends to the base of the package has been removed. Furthermore, the assembly of blanks that have bases formed of interlocking flaps is relatively simple and can be accomplished quickly by hand or by machine. The blank may be printed prior to assembly into the package.

Tape may be used to bond together overlapping flaps that form the base. Preferably, the blank can be formed into a package having a rigid base that is not held together by adhesive tape. Known package base types that are held together by adhesive tape require the tape to extend to a side face in order for a strong base to be formed. It is undesirable for the tape to extend onto the display face in the packages of the invention as a part of the display face that extends to the base is removable. If tape is used to hold together the base, it is preferred that the tape does not extend to a display face of the assembled package.

Advantageously, the blank comprises two panels that each comprise a side portion for forming a display face. Preferably, the two panels are arranged so that the assembled package comprises two opposing display faces. Thus, when the package is assembled, a removable section extends from at least an upper region of each of two opposing display faces to at least the bottom of two opposing display faces. An advantage of embodiment of the invention including that feature is that either one of the two opposing display faces may be visible on a shelf. Regardless of which of the opposing faces face is visible on the shelf, once the removable part of the package has been removed the contents of the package will be visible and accessible through the opening created by removing the removable part. Therefore, the package may be put on a shelf in either of the two orientations in which one of the two opposing display faces is displayed, thus facilitating stacking of the shelves. Preferably, a single removable section extends to both of the two opposing display faces. Accordingly, the removable part of each of the two opposing display faces is part of the samc removable section and the removable parts of both display faces can be removed together. Preferably, the removable part of each of the two opposing display faces and the top of package are all part of a single removable section such that the removable part of both opposing display faces and the top of the package can all be removed together. Embodiments in which parts extending from the top to the bottom of two

I

opposing display faces can be removed and embodiments in which the top of the package can be removed together with removable parts of two opposing display faces are possible because the entire display face is not removable but sufficient material remains on the display face for the assembled package to retain some mechanical S strength. If the entire display face together with part of the adjacent side faces and part of the top of the package were removable, as in previous designs described in the background to the invention above, two opposing display faces can not be removed together as the remaining package does not have sufficient mechanical strength to function in holding the contents. In an alternative embodiment the blank may comprise two panels that each comprise a side portion for forming a display face, the two panels being arranged such that two adjacent faces of the package once assembled are display faces including a removable part. Such an embodiment may have the advantage that the assembled package can either be placed on a shelf with the long or the short display face of a package that has a longer side and a shorter side being visible.

The blank includes a line of weakness forming a tear line that defines the removable section. The line of weakness forming the tear line may be of any suitable kind such, the provision of such tear lines in packaging being a matter of routine practice. The line of weakness may assist the user to accurately tear the material of the assembled package to remove the removable section. Preferably the line of weakness is such that the material of the blank retains sufficient strength for the assembled package to function to contain the contents, for example, during transport, whilst allowing the removable part to be easily and accurately removed by a user. Examples of suitable lines of weakness include lines of perforations through the material of the blank, continuous or broken score lines in the material of the blank and breaks in one or more but not all layers of a laminated material. The line of weakness may include a continuous cut line through the material of the blank. In some embodiments a continuous cut line through the material of the blank may be present in areas where accurate tearing the material is otherwise difficult, for example across corners of the assembled package or round bends, in some embodiments, cut away sections of the blank, where present, may constitute parts of the line of weakness. Such cut away Sections may facilitate a user in gripping the removable section to remove it.

C

The packages of the invention may be of any dimension. Preferably, the height of the assembled package is from about 150 mm to about 350 mm, more preferably from about 150 mm to about 230 mm, for example approximately 210 mm in height.

Preferably, depth of the assembled package is from about 150 to about 285 mm, for example, approximately 255 mm. The depth may be from about 400 mm to about 470 mm, for example approximately 450 mm. The depth of the package is the length of a face that is not intended to be visible when the package is placed on a shelf, that is the face that is aligned perpendicular to the edge of the shelf. Standard UK supermarket shelves are about 570 mm deep and therefore packages of about 285 mm deep or less are preferred as packages may be stacked two deep on the shelves. Some supermarket shelves are about 470 mm deep and so a depth of about 470 mm or less may be advantageous for some embodiments. The width of a display face of package may be any dimension and may be determined by the contents of the package. For example, the width of the display face of the package may be from about 150 mm to about is 300 mm. In one embodiment the width of the package is from about 160 to about 200 mm, for example approximately 180 mm. Whilst the package of the invention of those dimensions can be used for a wide variety of contents, it is particularly suitable for containing a multiplicity of containers of food products and especially elongate containers such as packets of biscuits, which may be stacked with the longitudinal axes of the containers are parallel and extend across the removable section parallel to the plane of the display face.

It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the method of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the blank or package of the invention and vice versa.

Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a blank of an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows an isometric view of a retail ready package of an embodiment of the invention made from the blank of Figure 1; ( Figure 3A shows an isometric view of the removable section of an embodiment of a retail ready package of the invention; and Figure 3B shows an isometric view of the retained section of an embodiment of a retail ready package of the invention.

Detailed Description

The blank 1 shown in Figure 1 is a single piece of comigated paperboard and comprises four panels 10, 20, 30, 40 separated from adiacent panels by fold lines 3.

io Two of said panels 10, 30 each comprise a side portion (not labelled) for forming a display face 4 of the package 2 shown in Figure 2 when assembled. The other two panels 20, 40 each comprise a side portion (not labelled) for forming non-display faces 6 of the package 2. All four panels 10, 20, 30, 40 also comprise a base portion 11, 21, 31, 41 for collectively forming the base 5 of the assembled package 2. The side portions (not labelled) for forming display faces 4 consist of retained parts 12, 32 and removable parts 13, 33. The side portions (not labelled) for forming non-display faces 6 consist of retained parts 22, 42 and removable parts 23, 43. All four panels 10, 20, 30, 40 comprise a top portion 14, 24, 34, 44 for collectively forming the top 7 of the assembled package 2.

The blank 1 comprises a removable section 8 and a retained section 9 which are separated by a line of weakness 50. The removable section 8 consists of the removable parts 13, 23, 33, 43 of the side portions and also the top portions 14, 24, 34,44 that together from the top 7 of the package 2 when assembled. The retained section 9 consists of the retained parts 12, 22, 32, 42 of the side portions and also the base portions 11, 21, 31, 41. The removable section 8 extends from the top fold line 3' of each side portion of panels 10, 20 for forming a display face 4 to the bottom fold line 3" of each side portion of the panels 10, 20.

The base portions 11,21,31,41 of the fourpanels 10,20,30,40 interlock together in a crash lock arrangement to form a solid base 5 without the need for adhesive tape.

When the base 5 of the package 2 is assembled the free corners (not labelled) of base portions 11, 31 are inserted into the cut away parts 27, 47 of the base portions 21, 41 thus forming a crash lock base. (

Adjacent to panel 10 of the blank 1, separated by a fold line 3 is an additional panel that forms a flap. Prior to or during assembly of the package 2, the additional panel is affixed to panel 40 by gluing the flap 60 to the reverse side of the panel 40 (that S is the side that will be on the interior of the assembled package), thus the panel 10 is attached to panel 60 and the blank 1 is formed into a tube.

The line of weakness 50 comprises, for the most part, a perforation through the corrugated paperboard but also includes cut away parts 15, 28, 35, 48. Cut away parts 15, 26,28, 35,46 and 48 assist the user in removing the removable section 8 from the assembled package 2 by providing holes in which the user can insert a finger or hand to pull the removable section 8 away from the retained section 9 of the package 2. In order to separate the assembled package 2 of Figure 2 into the removable section 8 shown in Figure 3A and the retained section 9 shown in Figure 3B, the user inserts a hand into the cut away parts 15, 28, 35, 48 and pulls the removable section 8 which separates from the retained section along the line of weakness 50.

In the blank of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the parts 15, 35 of the base portions 11, 31 that are adjacent to the removable parts 13, 33 of the side portions that will form the display faces 4 are cut away. Parts 26, 46 of the base portions 21, 41 of the panels 20, 40 are also cut away so that, when the package 2 is assembled, all the overlying parts 15, 26, 35, 46 of the base portions 11, 21, 31, 41 that are adjacent to the removable parts 13, 33 of the display faces are cut away. Accordingly, when the removable section 8 is removed from the assembled package 2, the front edge of the base 5 of the retained section 9 is set back from the front of the display face 4 as can be seen in Figure 3D. Accordingly, when the retained section 9 of the package 2 is on a shelf, the front edge of the base 5 is less visible that it would otherwise be in the absence of cut away portions 15, 26, 35, 46. The retained parts 12, 32 assist in retaining the items (not shown) contained in the package.

Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated herein. By way of example only, certain possible variations will now be described. (

The base 5 may be formed by any suitable method that enables a rigid base to be formed without the need for adhesive tape to be present on the display face 4 of the package 2. Other forms of crash lock mechanisms may be used or other means of forming abase by interlocking the base portions 11,21,31,41. In one embodiment, the base portions 11,21, 31,41 do not include cut away parts 15,27,35,47 for forming a crash lock base and instead overlapping parts of the base portions 11,21, 31,41 are bonded together, for example, by a glue or by staples.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the assembled package includes two display faces 4 that are the opposing shorter sides of the package 2 and the non-display faces 6 are the opposing longer sides. In an alternative embodiment, the display faces of the package are the longer sides and the non-display faces are the shorter sides. In a further embodiment, the package includes only one display face. In a further embodiment still thepackage includes a removable part that extends to the bottom of one of the shorter faces and a removable part that extends to the bottom of one the longer faces, so that the user may select to remove either one of those two removable parts together with the rest of the removable section resulting in either a long side or a short side becoming the display face.

The line of weakness 50 may include, for the most part, a scored line with the result that the material of the blank 1 is thinner than in other areas and so the material preferentially tears at the scored line.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1. A blank for assembly into a retail ready package having a

base, a top and four side faces, the blank comprising four panels separated from adjacent panels by fold lines, wherein at least one of said panels comprises a side portion for forming a display face of the package when assembled, and wherein the blank comprises a removable section defined by a line of weakness, characterised in that the removable section extends from the upper region of said side portion of said at least one panel for forming a display face to the bottom of said side portion of said at least one panel for forming a display face, such that when the package is assembled, a part of the display face that extends from at least the top of the display face to at least the bottom of the display face is removable.
2. A blank according to claim 1, wherein said at least one panel includes a base portion for forming at least a part of the base of the package when assembled, wherein the side and base portions are separated by a fold line, and wherein either the removable section extends into the base portion of said at least one panel or part of the base portion of said at least one panel that is adjacent to the removable part of the side portion is cut away such that, when assembled, a part of the base that is adjacent to the removable part of the first face is also removable or is cut away.
3. A blank according to claim 2, wherein any part of any portions of any of the panels that form the base of the package when assembled that overlie the removable or cut away part of the base portion of said at least one panel is also removable or cut away.
4. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein a part of the removable section adjacent to the lower edge of a side portion for forming a display face of the package when assembled is cut away. r
5. A blank according toy preceding claim, wherein at least a part of the removable section extends into all four panels such that, when assembled, the top of the package is removable together with the removable part of the display face of the package.
6. A blank according to claim 5, wherein the removable section extends into the portions of all panels that form the four side faces of the package when assembled such that at least a part of the side face of all four sides is removable together with the top of the package and the removable part of the display face of the package.
7. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein the blank is a one piece blank.
8. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein the four panels are arranged in a line and the two end panels are attached to one another and a fold line separates the two panels.
9. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein the blank is of a fluted paper board material.

10. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein the base of the assembled package is a crash lock base, is formed of interlocking flaps or is held together by a bond formed between overlapping flaps.

11. A blank according to any preceding claim, comprising two panels that each comprise a side portion for forming a display face of the package, the two panels being arranged so that the package comprises two opposing display faces when assembled.

12. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein at least part of the line of weakness comprises a perforation in the material of the blank.

13. A blank according to any preceding claim for assembly into a retail ready package for containing a multiplicity of food product containers. (

14. A retail ready package formed from the blank of any of the preceding claims.

15. A method of displaying consumer items on a shop shelf comprising: placing the consumer items in a retail ready package having a base, a top and four side faces, wherein at least one side face is a display face that includes a removable part and a retained part, the removable part extending from an upper region of, and advantageously the top of, the display face to the bottom of the display face; removing the removable part of the retail ready package; and placing the retail ready package on the shop shelf.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS:-Claims 1. A blank for assembly into a retail ready package having a base, a top and four side faces, the blank comprising four panels separated from adjacent panels by fold lines, wherein two of said panels comprises a side portion for forming a display face of the package when assembled, wherein the blank comprises a removable section defined by a line of weakness, and wherein a removable section extends from the upper region of said side portion of said two panels for forming a display face to the bottom of said side portion of said two panels for forming a display face, such that when the package is assembled, a part of the display face that extends from at least the top of the display face to at least the bottom of the display face is removable.

2. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the two panels that comprise a side portion for forming a display face are arranged so that the package comprises two opposing display faces when assembled. * .* * S * * *5

*::::* 20 3. A blank according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the base of the assembled : ** package is formed of interlocking flaps. *SS*

S S..

* 4. A blank for assembly into a retail ready package having a base, a top and * four side faces, the blank comprising four panels separated from adjacent panels by *S..

*:. 25 fold lines, wherein at least one of said panels comprises a side portion for forming a display face of the package when assembled, wherein the blank comprises a removable section defmed by a line of weakness, wherein a removable section extends from the upper region of said side portion of said at least one panel for forming a display face to the bottom of said side portion of said at least one panel for forming a display face, such that when the package is assembled, a part of the display face that extends from at least the top of the display face to at least the bottom of the display face is removable, and wherein the base of the assembled package is formed of interlocking flaps.

5. A blank according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the base of the assembled package is a crash lock base formed of interlocking flaps.

6. A blank according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one panel that comprises a side portion for forming a display face includes a base portion for forming at least a part of the base of the package when assembled, wherein the side and base portions are separated by a fold line, and to wherein either the removable section extends into the base portion of said at least one panel or part of the base portion of said at least one panel that is adjacent to the removable part of the side portion is cut away such that, when assembled, a part of the base that is adjacent to the removable part of the display face is also removable or is cut away.

7. A blank according to claim 6, wherein any part of any portions of any of the panels that form the base of the package when assembled that overlie the removable or cut away part of the base portion of said at least one panel is also * .* * **. removable or cut away. * 20 S..

* ,, 8. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein a part of the removable section adjacent to the lower edge of a side portion for forming a display face of the S..

* package when assembled is cut away. **..

S S..

*:. 25 9. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein at least a part of the removable section extends into all four panels such that, when assembled, the top of the package is removable together with the removable part of the display face(s) of the package.
10. A blank according to claim 9, wherein the removable section extends into the portions of all panels that form the four side faces of the package when assembled such that at least a part of the side face of all four sides is removable together with the top of the package and the removable part of a display face of the package.
11. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein the blank is a one piece blank.
12. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein the four panels are arranged in a line and the two end panels are arranged to be attached to one another and a fold line separates the two panels.
13. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein the blank is of a fluted paper board material.
14. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein at least part of the line of weakness comprises a perforation in the material of the blank.
15. A blank according to any preceding claim for assembly into a retail ready package for containing a multiplicity of food product containers.
16. A retail ready package formed from the blank of any of the preceding claims. * .S * * . * 0S

S... . . **** 20
17. A method of displaying consumer items on a shop shelf compnsing: * ** placing the consumer items in a retail ready package having a base, a top and four side faces, wherein two side faces are display faces that include a removable part and a S..

* retained part, the removable part extending from an upper region of, and advantageously the top of, the display faces to the bottom of the display faces; *...

*. 25 removing the removable part of the retail ready package; and placing the retail ready package on the shop shelf.
18. A method of displaying consumer items on a shop shelf comprising: placing the consumer items in a retail ready package having a base formed of interlocking flaps, a top and four side faces, wherein at least one side face is a display face that includes a removable part and a retained part, the removable part extending from an upper region of, and advantageously the top of, the display face to the bottom of the display face; removing the removable part of the retail ready package; and placing the retail ready package on the shop shelf.