Carton with recessed ends blank therefor

A carton enclosing a group of uniform articles such as bottles or cans disposed in at least three parallel rows and comprising at least one central row and at least two adjacent outer rows of articles arranged in mutually abutting relationship and in which the number of articles in said central row is less than that in said adjacent outer rows whereby a void is formed at each end of said group intermediate said outer rows of articles, the carton comprising a top and base interconnected by spaced side walls thereby forming a tubular structure and end closure panels closing each end of the tubular structure, said end closure panels at each end of the carton comprising a top end closure panel hinged to said top and having a central portion displaced into said void and a bottom end closure panel hinged to said base and having an end flap secure to said top end closure panel within said void, characterized in that said bottom end closure panel is joined to said base along a fold line which is substantially aligned with and tangential to the endmost articles in said adjacent outer rows.