# 12 pack packaging **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 24, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-pack-packaging/309611 "2005-06-24T00:11:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2005, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-pack-packaging/309611/1 "2005-06-24T00:11:19Z")
Several months ago all the pop (soda) companies seemed to be converting to the long, skinny boxes for their 12 pack packaging. Lately I have noticed more of the “old style” packaging returning to the shelves. Is this just a regional thing I am witnessing or is this nation-wide? If they are going back to the old way of packaging, does anyone know why? ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2005, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-pack-packaging/309611/2 "2005-06-24T00:32:27Z")
I see both package types in Phoenix. The long skinny pack is made so yo can place it in your fridge, rip off the perforated end and have a dispenser. The distinct drawback to this system is that the perforations easly tear before you want them to which makes it awkward to carry the pack where the more square packs don’t seem to have this weakness and IMO are easier to carry. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-pack-packaging/309611/3 "2005-06-24T03:09:03Z")
Another disadvantage of the fridge packs is that they continue to take up the same amount of space on the shelf if you have one can or 12. I prefer to take mine out of whatever box they came in. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-pack-packaging/309611/4 "2005-06-25T07:03:40Z")
Those dispenser boxes are awesome, never a problem with them. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-pack-packaging/309611/5 "2005-06-25T12:54:13Z")
I like the long skinny boxes except for one thing… at the grocery store, they always seem to stack them so that the little perforated hand-grip thing is on the side, not on top. Makes it really hard to grab one off the stack with one hand. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-pack-packaging/309611/6 "2005-06-25T19:07:47Z")
This package appeals to the grocer because it takes up fewer shelf inches than the old style. There are so many brands lately that there’s heavy competition for shelf inches in the soft drink aisle. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-pack-packaging/309611/7 "2005-06-25T20:18:37Z")
I always take my soda, beer, whatever, out of the containers and stack them in the fridge. This just seems more convienent to me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-pack-packaging/309611/8 "2005-06-25T21:57:50Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > This package appeals to the grocer because it takes up fewer shelf inches than the old style. There are so many brands lately that there’s heavy competition for shelf inches in the soft drink aisle. Huh? I _know_ you mean something by this, but you’ve lost me. Twelve cans is 12 cans… they take 12 cans’ of space… right? Okay, they’re narrower, but if you stock the same quantity, you lose depth… ---
**Author:** ![whatsittoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@whatsittoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whatsittoya)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-pack-packaging/309611/9 "2005-06-25T22:51:55Z")
But, in the case of having many different brands and types, deep and narrow is better as it allows you to front more brands ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/12-pack-packaging/309611/10 "2005-06-26T00:17:56Z")
> [@Balthisar](#): > > Huh? I _know_ you mean something by this, but you’ve lost me. Twelve cans is 12 cans… they take 12 cans’ of space… right? Okay, they’re narrower, but if you stock the same quantity, you lose depth… Supermarket managers think in terms of inches of shelf space and sales per inch. As **whatsittoya**'splained, the new style 12 is about two cans wide, and the old style is 3 cans wide. You can stock three 12s of three brands in the width of two old-style 12s. The big brands always get on the shelf, but the manager has to decide, “Which two, A&W Root Beer, Vernor’s, or Sunkist Orange Soda?” With the skinny box, he can stock all three.