Collation of packages and method of retaining packages together in a collation

A collation of packages, each package of the collation being cuboid-shaped and comprising a pair of opposing first faces, a pair of opposing second faces and a pair of opposing end faces,

• wherein the packages are arranged in a row such that a first face of a package faces a first face of an adjacent package in the row, a first face of a package at the end the row, and a second face of each package in the row, being exposed;
• a plurality of bands extending about the packages to hold the collation together;
• wherein each band is spaced from its adjacent band and extends over the exposed first face and exposed second face, of each package;
• wherein each band is spaced from its adjacent band and extends over the exposed first face and exposed second face, of each package.

A method of retaining packages together in a collation, the method comprising:

• providing a collation of cuboid-shaped packages, each package comprising a wrapper and a tear strip for removal of the wrapper, each package also comprising a pair of opposing first faces, a pair of opposing second faces and a pair of opposing end faces,
• arranging the packages in rows such that a second face of a package faces a second face of an adjacent package within the same row, and a first face of a package in a row faces a first face of a package in an adjacent row, a second face of a package at the end of each row, and a first face of a package in a row being exposed;
• providing a plurality of bands;
• and
• positioning each band so that it is spaced from its adjacent band and extends over the exposed first face, and the exposed second faces, of each package and such that the plurality of bands extend about said packages such that they do not overlie the tear strip.