Carrying tray for holding, transporting, and/or delivering food and beverage containers and method therefor

A method for delivering a container in a generally upright orientation, said method comprising:

• providing a tray having a top wall, a first set of opposing sidewalls and a second set of opposing sidewalls, said top wall comprising at least one cavity, said cavity being configured for receiving a first portion of the container therein;
• providing at least one retaining feature within said cavity, said retaining feature being configured for engaging with said first portion of the container;
• loading said container into said at least one cavity with said first portion of the container disposed below said top wall and said retaining feature in engagement with said first portion of the container;
• loading said tray into a delivery bag;
• and
• restricting movement of the container within said tray during transportation of said delivery bag and holding said first and second set of opposing sidewalls in the generally upright orientation within said delivery bag.

A tamper evident delivery system for delivering a container in a generally upright orientation, said system comprising:

• a tray comprising a top wall, a first set of opposing sidewalls and a second set of opposing sidewalls, said top wall comprising at least one cavity, said cavity including a retaining feature and being configured for receiving a first portion of the container therein, said retaining feature being configured for engaging with said first portion of the container;
• a delivery bag comprising a front panel, a rear panel, a mouth end and a closed bottom end;
• the delivery bag includes a closure system for sealing off the mouth end of the delivery bag and a frangible line configured for tearing the delivery bag for accessing the contents sealed therein;
• said tray being configured for loading into the delivery bag with said first portion of the container included in said cavity and engaged with said retaining feature, wherein said carrying tray is configured for maintaining said first and second set of opposing sidewalls and said container in the generally upright orientation in said delivery bag.