A shipping carton construction comprising a closed carton containing a plurality of containers. The containers upstand in the carton in side-by-side abutting positions and are arranged in groups with a packaging device for each group. The packaging device is formed from a resilient deformable plastics sheet material in the shape of a plurality of bands arranged in two adjacent rows. The bands are circumferentially applied about the individual containers to separate and cushion the individual containers in a spaced-apart relationship so that in transport and handling, containers having a high finish are not scratched or marred. The containers are cylindrical and have a substantial upper chime such as particularly used in the distribution of aerosol spray products, and each of the bands of the group packaging devices has a particularly formed and arranged plastics tab that projects upwardly over the container chime to further cushion adjacent packaged groups and to prevent the chimes of one group from overriding or climbing the chimes of another group in the transport and handling of the carton. Each of the tabs is further provided with a particular slit that does not weaken the stretched container encircling bands nor interfere with the cushioning function of the tabs, but permits the bands to be easily fractured by a person such as a grocery or supermarket clerk when the carton has been opened and the containers are to be removed and placed on the store shelves.