A method and apparatus for continuous packaging of bottled beverages, or the like, in basket-style carriers wherein the carriers are advanced by an overhead conveyor, in opened-up condition with bottom wall forming flaps, which initially depend in the plane of the side walls being hinged to an upwardly inclined position while the carriers travel down an inclined path, for assembly with groups of the bottled beverages which are advanced on a bottom conveyor to an assembly area where successive carriers are forced in telescoping relation down over groups of bottles and the bottom wall forming panels of the carriers which have been hinged upwardly are engaged and drawn downwardly by plate members carried on endless conveyors traveling in vertical paths on opposite sides of the groups of bottles, after which heat activatable adhesive on the bottom wall forming flaps is activated and the flaps which have been swung down upon advance beyond the draw down plates are plowed into bottom wall forming position with overlapping margins in seam forming engagement so as to complete the packages.