Carrier for containers

A blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the blank comprising:

• a first end portion, a second end portion, and a central portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, each of the first end portion and the second end portion having a respective container retention opening for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers in the carrier formed from the blank;
• container retention features in the first end portion and the second end portion comprising a first container retention ring surrounding the respective container retention opening and a second container retention ring adjacent the first container retention ring, the first container retention ring and the second container retention separably connected,
• the first container retention ring being positionable to engage an upper portion of a respective container in the carrier formed from the blank and the second container retention ring being positionable relative to the first container retention ring to engage a lower portion of a respective container below the upper portion of the respective container in the carrier formed from the blank.

A method of forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the method comprising:

• obtaining a blank having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a central portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, each of the first end portion and the second end portion having a respective container retention opening for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, container retention features in the first end portion and the second end portion comprising a first container retention ring surrounding the respective container retention opening and a second container retention ring adjacent the first container retention ring, the first container retention ring and the second container retention separably connected;
• positioning the first container retention ring to engage an upper portion of a respective container and positioning the second container retention ring relative to the first container retention ring to engage a lower portion of a respective container below the upper portion of the respective container.