Method for bundling multiple articles together while obscuring individual identification codes and related assembly

A method of forming a single, separately identifiable bundle of articles comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of articles, each article bearing product information or advertising indicia on one or more surfaces thereof, and further having an individual identification code on a surface thereof;
• arranging the articles to form the bundle;
• wrapping the articles by placing a first film only partially around the plurality of articles such that the product information or advertising indicia on at least one article is at least partially viewable, and then wrapping a second dark-colored, opaque, or patterned film only partially around the plurality of articles so as to substantially obscure the individual identification codes on each of the articles;
• and
• at least partially securing the second film to the first film to form a sleeve around the articles, whereby the articles in the bundle may be identified from the product information or advertising indicia on the at least one article, but the obscuring prevents the automated scanner from reading the individual identification codes and identifying the bundle as a single article.