WO2016054724A1

WO2016054724A1 - Merchandising, shipping and display container

Info

Publication number: WO2016054724A1
Application number: PCT/CA2015/000529
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maher JUMA
Original assignee: Juma Maher
Priority date: 2014-10-07
Filing date: 2015-10-07
Publication date: 2016-04-14

Abstract

This invention relates to a new merchandise, shipping, storage and display container particularly useful for bakery products. It comprises a recyclable container made of cardboard which significantly reduces the cost of transporting and displaying bakery products.

Description

MERCHANDISING, SHIPPING AND DISPLAY CONTAINER

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a new merchandise, shipping, storage and display containers particularly useful for bakery products.

Description of the Prior Art

Currently, bakery products are shipped from the baker directly to the market in metal, plastic and in choroplast baskets or trays which have a flat surface for holding the baked goods and metal, plastic or choroplast sides for retaining the baked goods and which allow the person to grip the sides to lift the trays and move them from a warehouse, distribution centre and truck to the retail store.

The containers are then stacked in the store displaying the bread and other baked goods for sale. When the baked goods are sold, each tray must be removed and stacked in the storage area of the store, waiting for the truck to return and pick up the trays and return them to the bakery.

The trays are then cleaned and the process is repeated.

The trays are standard sizes and while the baked goods and their packages are of differing sizes, the packages of the baked goods are "squished" into the tray so that as many packages can be delivered as possible on a single tray.

Also, since different bakers use trays of different sizes, universal pallets cannot be used by delivery companies and retailers.

It is a non-limiting object of the present invention to address disadvantages which may be associated with known products. Summary of the Invention

This invention relates to a new merchandise, shipping, storage and display container made from cardboard. The container of the present invention may permit uses to transport, store, ship and display bakery products.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a stackable container for storing or displaying a consumable good, the container having a base wall and a sidewall coupled to the base wall along a periphery of the base wall to define an upper opening, wherein the sidewall comprises an upwardly oriented flap and the bottom wall defines an elongated slot, wherein in a stacked arrangement with a first one of said container being placed over a second one of said container, the elongated slot of the first container is located to receive the upwardly oriented flap of the second container.

In one embodiment, the base wall has a generally rectangular shape, and the sidewall comprises a pair of opposed longitudinal sidewall sections each coupled to an associated longitudinal edge of the base wall and a pair of opposed lateral sidewall sections each coupled to an associated lateral edge of the base wall, wherein each said longitudinal and lateral sidewall sections comprise one or more said flaps extending upwardly therefrom.

In one embodiment, each said lateral sidewall sections comprises one said flap and each said longitudinal sidewall sections comprises two or more said flaps, and the base wall define a number of said slots equal to a total number of the flaps.

In one embodiment, the base wall has a generally square shape, and the sidewall comprises four sidewall sections of substantially equal length each coupled to an associated edge of the base wall, wherein each said sidewall sections comprise an equal number of said flaps extending upwardly therefrom, and the base wall define a number of said slots equal to a total number of the flaps.

In one embodiment, the base wall and the sidewall are made with a material selected from the group consisting of metal, alloy, wood, plastic, carbon fiber, paper, paperboard and cardboard, or more preferably cardboard, most preferably recyclable cardboard. In one embodiment, the base wall and the sidewall are made with a single piece die cut cardboard or corrugated cardboard comprising a pair of opposed exterior liners and an interior liner interposed between the exterior liners, the interior liner being bonded to the exterior liners, and wherein the container is constructed by folding the cardboard.

In one embodiment, the stackable container is a substantially vertically stackable container for storing or displaying a baked product. In one embodiment, the cardboard is shaped to provide the longitudinal sidewall sections with two or more layers of the cardboard and the lateral side wall sections with four or more layers of the cardboard, wherein each said sidewall sections comprise an upwardly oriented support edge for seated engagement with a further one of said container thereon.

In one embodiment, the cardboard is shaped to effect inward folding towards the base wall to provide the sidewall sections with the layers of the cardboard, and each portion of the cardboard positioned for forming an associated one of the longitudinal sidewall sections comprises longitudinal end insert portions, each said insertion portion being for placement between said layers of the lateral sidewall sections. In one embodiment, the cardboard has a shape substantially identical to that illustrated in Figure 1 or Figure 2.

In one embodiment, assembly of the container from the cardboard is conducted without use of any fixing or adhesive means, such as glue. Rather, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 as further described below, each portion of the cardboard for forming an associated innermost layer of the sidewall sections are provided with a locking tab, and the base wall includes a plurality of tab receiving slots located for receiving an associated said locking tab, wherein in a final constructed position, the container has the locking tab downwardly inserted into the associated locking tab to thereby form the sidewall sections in a substantially vertical orientation.

In one embodiment, the container is for placement on a shipping pallet. In a further embodiment, one or more said sidewall sections define a handle aperture sized for receiving a user's hand.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a stackable container assembly comprising a plurality of containers selectively moveable to form one or more substantially vertically oriented container stacks, each said container having a base wall and a sidewall coupled to the base wall along a periphery of the base wall to define an upper opening, wherein the sidewall comprises an upwardly oriented flap and the bottom wall defines an elongated slot, and each said container stack has two or more of said container in a substantially vertically stacked arrangement, whereby the flap of a first one of said container is received in the slot of a second one of said container positioned above the first container.

In one embodiment, the base wall has a generally rectangular shape, and wherein the plurality of the containers include one or more enlarged containers and one or more reduced size containers, each said container having a same width and a length of each said reduced size container being less than a length of each said enlarged container, wherein the length of the reduced sized container being sized to effect stacking of the reduced sized container adjacent to the enlarged container.

In one embodiment, the length of the reduced size container is about one half of the length of the enlarged container, whereby two said reduced sized container are positionable along a longitudinal direction to effect stacking above or below one said enlarged container.

It is to be appreciated that specific configurations and placement of the flaps and the slots provided on the containers in the container assembly may be modified depending on the specific requirements associated with the shipping, storing and/or displaying of the good placed in the container. By way of non-limiting examples, stacking of alternating vertical layers of the enlarged and reduced size containers may be effected by configuring the enlarged containers to define two slots located along each longitudinal edge of the base wall and one centered slot along each lateral edge of the base wall, and the reduced size containers to have one slot along each edge of the base wall. The placement of the flaps and slots may be selected such that two of the reduced sized containers placed adjacent to each other along a longitudinal direction can stack below one said enlarged container, where one laterally disposed slot and two opposed longitudinally disposed slots receive three flaps from each reduced sized containers. In such arrangement, one lateral flap of each reduced sized container may be folded horizontally to abut against a bottom surface of the vertically adjacent enlarged container. In an alternative embodiment, the flaps may have a perforated portion selectively removable from the sidewall to accommodate stacking of different configurations or containers of different 'sizes.

In one embodiment, the flaps and slots may be configured to permit for staggered stacking arrangement of the enlarged and/or reduced sized containers for potentially improved stacking stability. In an exemplary non-limiting embodiment, two enlarged containers may be positioned adjacent to each other in a longitudinal direction and a further enlarged container may be stacked above the two enlarged containers in a staggered placement, such that the longitudinally disposed slots of the further enlarged container receive opposed longitudinally disposed slots from each of the two enlarged containers stacked below. The staggered stacking arrangement may be provided to include the enlarged and/or reduced size containers to form different overall shapes and sizes, depending on for example the shape and size of the shipping truck or storage warehouse.

For further improved stacking stability during storage or shipping, the sidewall may be configured to further include laterally extending flaps or tabs and laterally defined slots to receive the flaps/tabs. Therefore, when the containers are vertically stacked to form the substantially vertically oriented container stacks, each said stack are selectively movable in abutting contact with other said stacks, whereby the flaps/tabs and slots are removably engaged between the containers, and therefore, the stacks.

It is to be appreciated that the dimensions of the container and the components thereof may be modified to accommodate the intended products, such as baked products. In one embodiment, the container is sized to accommodate a plurality of identical baked products without leaving any significant space.

In one embodiment, the stackable container is a substantially vertically stackable container for shipping, storing or displaying a baked product, and wherein the cardboard is shaped to provide the longitudinal sidewall sections with two or more layers of the cardboard and the lateral side wall sections with four or more layers of the cardboard, wherein each said sidewall sections comprise an upwardly oriented support edge for seated engagement with a further one of said container thereon in the container stack.

In one embodiment, the cardboard is shaped to effect inward folding towards the base wall to provide the sidewall sections with the layers of the cardboard, and each portion of the cardboard positioned for forming an associated one of the longitudinal sidewall sections comprises longitudinal end insert portions, each said insertion portion being for placement between said layers of the lateral sidewall sections.

In one embodiment, the cardboard has a shape substantially identical to that illustrated in Figure 1 or Figure 2.

In one embodiment, the container or the container stack is for placement on a shipping pallet.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides use of the container of the present invention for shipping a baked product.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a process for shipping a baked product, the process comprising placing on a shipping pallet a plurality of the container containing the baked product therein to form the substantially vertically oriented container stack thereon, and shipping the pallet with the container stack thereon to a destination, wherein each said container are selectively movable from the container stack for display and sale to a customer. It has been appreciated that the stackable container of the present invention may permit for shipping of consumable goods, in particular, baked products such as bread, while reducing weight, costs and labor associated with loading, transporting and unloading the container. In a preferred embodiment where the stackable container is a cardboard container, the applicant has appreciated that the baked products may be distributed to the market and retailers using shipping pallets, without substantially increasing damage and possibility of damage to the container baked products. In one embodiment, the shipping pallet may have a dimension of 48" x 40" and each of the container may have a dimension of 24" x 40" such that two of the container stacks may be placed on the pallet, a dimension of 24" x 20" such that four of the container stacks may be placed on the pallet or a dimension of 20" x 12" such that eight of the container stacks may be placed on the pallet, for convenient loading and unloading during shipping. It is to be appreciated that other dimensions of the pallet and the container are within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, once shipped to the destination, each said container may be unloaded from the pallet directly for display and sale to customers, without necessarily requiring further manipulation or processing with the container.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a top view of the die cut used to manufacture the full size container. Figure 2 is a top view of the die cut used to manufacture the half size container. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the full size container. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the half size container.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

In one embodiment, the container is made from cardboard which is recycled after use and is not returned to the bakery. Therefore, the present invention may reduce or eliminate the need to return the trays and the steps of cleaning the trays. It is to be appreciated that while a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described for use in shipping, storing and/or displaying baked products, it is to be appreciated that the container of the present invention is not restricted to such use only. By way of non- limiting examples, the container of the present invention may permit uses with other consumable or durable goods which may be shipped, stored and/or displayed in a container with an upper opening, such as vegetables, processed foods, consumer electronics, clothing articles, kitchen appliances and others.

The containers may also be suitable for holding packages of varying sizes within one universal size thus allowing for standardization of shipping pallets.

In the prior art, in some stores, the baked products are removed from the shipping trays and put on the store shelves directly. The container of the present invention may also permit foregoing that step as the containers may be stacked immediately on the store shelf by a single person in view of their light weight. Alternatively, the pallets containing the cardboard containers may be left on the retailer's floor. They are display ready thus eliminating the need to merchandise the baked goods. When the baked goods are sold from the container, the container is easily removed, broken down and recycled.

As a result, the container may reduce or eliminate a considerable amount of manpower currently required from the step of placing the baked goods in the container at the bakery through to selling at the retail store. It may also eliminate the need to return the container to the bakery and the cost of cleaning the trays.

As one example, the average trailer currently is used to transport baked goods from bakeries to retail stores is fifty three feet in length and can accommodate 1280 metal, plastic or chloroplast baskets or trays. Assuming ten (10) loaves of bread of the average size, this means that one trailer can ship about 12,800 loaves of bread to a retailer.

With the containers of the present invention, that same trailer can accommodate 1040 containers with 18 loaves of bread in each container. This allows one trailer to ship 18,720 loaves of bread per trailer representing a 50% increase in shipping capacity. The containers of the present invention may also be made for full pallets or for half pallets.

Various experiments have been conducted using the containers of the present invention.

The following is a list of bakery products which fit within one full size containers. Each item was first weighed and then the maximum number of articles were fitted into a single container.

DELUXE HOTDOG BUN (12) 0.94 4

DELUXE HAMBURGER BUN (12) 0.94 4

MINI CROISSANTS (24) 0.42 11

7" PL TORTILLA (10) 0.34 16

7" WW TORTILLA (10) 0.34 16

10" PL TORTILLA (6) 0.61 12

10" SUN DRIED TOMATO TORTILLA (6) 0.426 12

10" SPINACH TORTILLA (6) 0.426 12

10" WW TORTILLA (10) 0.426 12

10" TORTILLA PLAIN (10) 0.61 12

7" TORTILLA PLAIN (8) 0.272 16

10" ACIENT GRAINS TORTILLA (8) 0.488 12

7" ACIENT GRAINS TORTILLA (8) 0.272 16

CINNAMON ROLL (12) 0.34 12

GENERIC CINN RAISIN BAGEL (6) 0.51 12

GENERIC SESAME BAGEL (6) 0.51 12

BUN 6.08 1

BUN 9.79 1

SEEDED BUN 9.79 1

KAISER 9.79 1

MIXED SEED HAMBURGER BUN 9.22 1

DELUXE HOTDOG BUN (12) X2 1.88 4

DELUXE HAMBURG BUN (12) X2 1.99 4

ORG ENGLISH MUFFIN (6) 7.68 1

HOTDOG BUN X3 1.32 9

THK WHT BREAD X2 1.35 1

THK WW BREAD X2 1.35 1

CRUSTINI BUN (8) 1.16 1

SAUSAGE BUN (6) 0.85 1

10" TORTILLA X2 1.22 12

WHT BREAD X3 2.025 10

100% WW BREAD X3 2.025 1

ARTISAN MULTI 0.9 6

ARTISAN SOURDGH 0.9 6

ARTISAN SUNFLWR 0.9 6

ARTISAN FOCC BR RN 0.6 8

139889 SCHWED X2 1.36 1

FROZEN WW THK SL BREAD 10.8 1

BKRSRC WW THK SAND BREAD 10.8 1

FROZEN WHT THK SL BREAD 10.8 1

BKRSRC WHT THK SAND BREAD 10.8 1

TWO BITE BROWNIES 0.3 12

WHITE OVERBAKE 0.675 10

TWO BITE MACAROONS 0.3 12

PASTRY SHELLS PETI (6) 0.16 12

DINNER ROLLS 24'S X2 1.42 4

WG WHEAT & OAT BREAD 0.6 10

EVERYTHING BAGEL (6) 0.45 12

ORIG PL BAGEL (6) 0.45 12

SESAME BAGEL (6) 0.45 12

CIN RAIS BAGEL (6) 0.45 12

WW BAGEL (6) 0.45 12

WG 12 GRAINS BAGEL (6) 0.51 12

BLUEBERRY BAGEL (6) 0.45 12

SES HAMBURGER BUN (8) 0.616 6

SES HOTDOG BUN (6) 0.432 9

SES MINI SLIDER (12) 0.384 7

WG MULTIGRAIN BREAD 0.6 10

WG CANADIAN CENTURY GRAINS BRD 0.6 10

WG ANCIENT GRAINS BREAD 0.6 10

THINS 7" TORTILLAS (8) Aug 22 0.248 16

THINS MULTIGRAIN BREAD 450g Aug 22 0.45 12

THINS WHT BREAD 450g Aug 22 0.45 12

THINS 100% WW BREAD 450g Aug 22 0.45 12

WG 12 GRAINS BREAD 0.6 10

WG FLAX BREAD 0.6 10

BALANCE 12 WG & SEED BRD 0.6 12

BALANCE MULTI WG BREAD 0.6 12

RAISIN BREAD X 3 450g 1.35 15

MINI BUNS (12) Seasonal 0.384 7

WG CANADIAN GRAINS BREAD 725G 0.725 10

SES HAMBURGER BUN (8) 0.616 9

GREAT VALUE WHT ENGLISH MUFFINS 0.34 18

GREAT VALUE WW ENGLISH MUFFINS 0.34 18

MULTIGRAIN THIN HAM BUN (8) 0.56 12

GREAT VALUE 7" WHT TORTILLA (10) 0.34 16

GREAT VALUE 7" WW TORTILLA (10) 0.34 16

GREAT VALUE PLAIN BAGEL (6) 0.51 12

GREAT VALUE SESAME BAGEL (6) 0.51 12

GREAT VALUE WW BAGEL (6) 0.51 12

WG 12 GRAINS BREAD X3 2.175 10

WG ANCIENT GRAINS BREAD X3 2.175 10

WG CANADIAN CENTURY GRAINS BREAD X3 0.725 10

ULTRA SOFT HOTDOG BUN (6) 0.384 8

ULTRA SOFT HAMBURGER BUN (6) 0.384 10

WHT CLB UMST Ottawa Valley Only 0.675 10

WHEAT CLB UMS Ottawa Valley Only 0.675 10

STMD HD BX Ottawa Valley Only 0.515 6

In preferred embodiments, the full size containers were made from a die cut 2 of cardboard as shown in figure 1 and the half size container was made from a die cut 4 as shown in figure 2. It is to be appreciated that the container may be made with other materials, including but not limited metal, alloy, plastic, carbon fiber, wood and others, depending on the specific requirements of the products for use with the container.

The board combination used in the preferred embodiment is 32 ECT C-flute white top. The outside liner has a preferred weight of 33 lb; the medium has a preferred weight of 23 lb and the inside liner has a preferred weight of 33 lb.

In the preferred embodiment, the first step in the process is to bond the two liners and the medium. This is done using starch and heat and the combination is fed through a corrugator to bond the elements.

The machine on which the components are bonded into a corrugated board is referred to as a "corrugator-combiner" or simply as a "corrugator". A typical corrugator is a long machine between 200 and 300 feet in length depending upon its range of operational capabilities. The process commences at the single facer where the corrugating medium is fluted and attached to one flat facing. This web is then carried on and overhead bridge to the glue machine where adhesive is applied to the unfaced flute tips to affix the second flat facing which joins the web as it passes into the double facer. The moist adhesive dries in the double facer section and the combined board passes from there through the slitter-scorer and the cut-off knife from which it is delivered in sheet form to the stacker.

During the corrugation process, the blanks are cut to size. The containers are made by a normal manufacturing sequence for a die cut item. A continuous web of plain corrugated cardboard is first cut into sheets of a given width and length.

The sheets are then fed by a conveyor system through a die press where they are cut and/or scored by the impression of the steel rule die. Printing can also occur at the die press. It is preferred to use water based printing inks which is applied by the print plate. Flexographic inks have a low viscosity and preclude high pigment concentration and are much less opaque than paste inks. The drying times of the flexographic inks are very short leading to improved operability of the process. When different colours are desired, each colour requires its own printing plate. The die press used may be either a flat bed or a rotary die press depending on the style and size of the die cut item and the type of equipment available. The scrap material, both external and internal, is then

automatically removed on the die press equipment.

The corrugated box is cut and scored by means of die cutting on a die press using a steel rule die. The steel rule die is typically a sheet of plywood cut with the desired pattern by a jig-saw then having steel cutting or creasing rule inserted into the saw cut. The plywood sheet can be flat for Flat Bed Die Presses or semi-circular for Rotary Die Presses. The Flat Bed die press is an intermittent operation and is similar to a printing press. The cutting die is mounted on a cylinder and rotates against a urethane covered anvil roll and it impresses the boars as it passes through the nip between the die and the anvil. The units are automatically fed from the bottom of the stack of sheets into a hopper. It is preferable to use a rotary machine because of its high speed. The rotary die is used for high volume and lends itself to the inclusion of in-line flexographic printing capability.

To assemble, each edge 6 is first folded inwardly and then the lead edges 8 are folded inwardly with the edges 10 inserted through slots 12 thus forming the containers 14.

As the container is assembled, the flap portion 16 extends upwardly. When the containers stacked on top of each other, the flap portion 16 of the lower container fits into the slot 18 of the upper container thus adding integrity to the stack of containers.

The flap portion 16 may be located on the inside edge or on the outside edge of the vertical side walls of the container.

The full size box as shown in figure 3 and a half size container as shown in figure 4.

In order to test the stability of the containers, a test was designed to determine whether a full pallet load of the containers could survive a simulated trailer voyage of 5,000 kms and whether the containers could be double stacked during transit. The weight of the stack of containers and pallet was measured at 573 lbs. The dimensions of the load were measured at 48 inches in length, 39.5 inches in width and 53 inches in height including the height of the pallet.

The full pallet was vibrated for a period simulating 5,000 kms. This period has been shown empirically to be equivalent to one hour equaling 1600 kms. Accordingly, the load was vibrated for 3.16 hours to simulate 5,000 kms.

No damage to the containers was noted.

The containers were then subjected to a compression test. The containers were stored in a cold storage room overnight at 4 degrees Celsius and 50% humidity. The containers were then subjected to a top-to-bottom compression test to determine if they could be transported when stacked two high in a trailer.

This test was to determine if a pallet load of containers was able to withstand compression so that they would not collapse during storage or transport.

Various factors set by the Fibre Box Association were considered including storage time under load and relative humidity. The storage effect is multiplied by the humidity effect to get an environmental factor of 0.41. The Environmental Multiplier was therefore calculated at 1/0.41 or 2.4. The compression load yielded at 1995 lbs. but since only 1398 lbs were required, the containers stood up well and there were no compression issues with these fully loaded containers.

Although the disclosure illustrates and describes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that it is not so restricted. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes could be made and variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The embodiments and the obvious variations thereof are contemplated as falling within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention, which is set forth hereinafter.

Claims

Claims:

1. A recyclable container for transporting storing, shipping and displaying bakery products comprising a base wall, vertical side walls and means for interconnecting stacked containers characterized by said container being of the dimensions to store a plurality of packages of baked goods.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 which is made of cardboard.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 which carries ten loaves of bread.

4. A container as claimed in claim 1 including a plurality of upwardly extending flaps from each side, said flaps adapted to be retained in corresponding slots in each side wall of the container on top of said container when said containers are stacked.

5. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cardboard is 32 ECT C-flute white top.

6. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said walls comprise an outside liner, a medium liner and an inside liner.

7. A container as claimed in claim 6 wherein said outside liner has a weight of 33 pounds.

8. A container as claimed in claim 6 wherein said medium liner has a weight of 23 pounds.

9. A container as claimed in claim 6 wherein said inside liner has a weight of 33 pounds.

10. A container as claimed in claim 6 wherein the outside liner and the inside liner are bound to the medium using starch and heat.

11. A container as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cardboard is corrugated.

12. A stackable container for shipping, storing or displaying a consumable good, the container having a base wall and a sidewall coupled to the base wall along a periphery of the base wall to define an upper opening, wherein the sidewall comprises an upwardly oriented flap and the bottom wall defines an elongated slot, wherein in a stacked arrangement with a first one of said container being placed over a second one of said container, the elongated slot of the first container is located to receive the upwardly oriented flap of the second container.

13. The stackable container of claim 12, wherein the base wall has a generally

rectangular shape, and the sidewall comprises a pair of opposed longitudinal sidewall sections each coupled to an associated longitudinal edge of the base wall and a pair of opposed lateral sidewall sections each coupled to an associated lateral edge of the base wall, wherein each said longitudinal and lateral sidewall sections comprise one or more said flaps extending upwardly therefrom.

14. The stackable container of claim 13, wherein each said lateral sidewall sections comprises one said flap and each said longitudinal sidewall sections comprises two or more said flaps, and the base wall define a number of said slots equal to a total number of the flaps.

15. The stackable container of any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the base wall and the sidewall are made with a material selected from the group consisting of metal, alloy, wood, plastic, carbon fiber, paper, paperboard and cardboard, or more preferably cardboard.

16. The stackable container of any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the base wall and the sidewall are made with a single piece die cut cardboard or corrugated cardboard comprising a pair of opposed exterior liners and an interior liner interposed between the exterior liners, the interior liner being bonded to the exterior liners, and wherein the container is constructed by folding the cardboard.

17. The stackable container of claim 16, wherein the stackable container is a

substantially vertically stackable container for shipping, storing or displaying a baked product, and wherein the cardboard is shaped to provide the longitudinal sidewall sections with two or more layers of the cardboard and the lateral side wall sections with four or more layers of the cardboard, wherein each said sidewall sections comprise an upwardly oriented support edge for seated engagement with a further one of said container thereon.

18. The stackable container of claim 17, wherein the cardboard is shaped to effect inward folding towards the base wall to provide the sidewall sections with the layers of the cardboard, and each portion of the cardboard positioned for forming an associated one of the longitudinal sidewall sections comprises longitudinal end insert portions, each said insertion portion being for placement between said layers of the lateral sidewall sections.

19. The stackable container of claim 17, wherein the cardboard has a shape

substantially identical to that illustrated in Figure 1 or Figure 2.

20. The stackable container of any one of claims 16 to 20, wherein the container is for placement on a shipping pallet.

21. A stackable container assembly for shipping, storing or displaying a consumable good, the assembly comprising a plurality of stackable containers selectively moveable to form one or more substantially vertically oriented container stacks, each said container having a base wall and a sidewall coupled to the base wall along a periphery of the base wall to define an upper opening, wherein the sidewall comprises an upwardly oriented flap and the bottom wall defines an elongated slot, and each said container stack has two or more of said container in a substantially vertically stacked arrangement, whereby the flap of a first one of said container is received in the slot of a second one of said container positioned above the first container.

22. The stackable container assembly of claim 21, wherein the base wall has a

generally rectangular shape, and wherein the plurality of the containers include one or more enlarged containers and one or more reduced size containers, each said container having a same width and a length of each said reduced size container being less than a length of each said enlarged container, wherein the length of the reduced sized container being sized to effect stacking of the reduced sized container adjacent to the enlarged container.

23. The stackable container assembly of claim 22, wherein the length of the reduced size container is about one half of the length of the enlarged container, whereby two said reduced sized container are positionable along a longitudinal direction to effect stacking above or below one said enlarged container.

24. The stackable container assembly of any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the base wall and the sidewall are made with a material selected from the group consisting of metal, alloy, wood, plastic, carbon fiber, paper, paperboard and cardboard, or more preferably cardboard.

25. The stackable container assembly of any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the base wall and the sidewall are made with a single piece die cut cardboard or corrugated cardboard comprising a pair of opposed exterior liners and an interior liner interposed between the exterior liners, the interior liner being bonded to the exterior liners, and wherein the container is constructed by folding the cardboard.

26. The stackable container assembly of claim 25, wherein the stackable container is a substantially vertically stackable container for shipping, storing or displaying a baked product, and wherein the cardboard is shaped to provide the longitudinal sidewall sections with two or more layers of the cardboard and the lateral side wall sections with four or more layers of the cardboard, wherein each said sidewall sections comprise an upwardly oriented support edge for seated engagement with a further one of said container thereon in the container stack.

27. The stackable container assembly of claim 26, wherein the cardboard is shaped to effect inward folding towards the base wall to provide the sidewall sections with the layers of the cardboard, and each portion of the cardboard positioned for forming an associated one of the longitudinal sidewall sections comprises longitudinal end insert portions, each said insertion portion being for placement between said layers of the lateral sidewall sections.

28. The stackable container assembly of claim 26, wherein the cardboard has a shape substantially identical to that illustrated in Figure 1 or Figure 2.

29. The stackable container assembly of any one of claims 21 to 28, wherein the

container or the container stack is for placement on a shipping pallet.

30. Use of the container of any one of claims 12 to 20 or the container assembly of any one of claims 21 to 29 for shipping a baked prpduct.

31. A process for shipping a baked product, the process comprising placing on a

shipping pallet a plurality of the container of any one of claims 12 to 20 to form a substantially vertically oriented container stack thereon or a plurality of the container stack as defined in any one of claims 21 to 30, each said container containing the baked product, and shipping the pallet with the container stack thereon to a destination, wherein each said container are selectively movable from the container stack for display and sale to a customer.