Article packaging apparatus (10) includes a multiple lane article infeed (12), first #1 and second #2 transfers, an intermediate article orientation station (30) and an article group discharge conveyor (14). The first #1 and second #2 transfers have respective article grippers (1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1- 4, and 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 and 2-4) expansible and contractible toward and away from one another while the intermediate article orientation station (30) includes article rotating trays (31-34) spaced further apart than the lanes (16-19) of the article infeed (12).