Grooved base package

Claim 1

In a container for sliced meat products or the like comprising: (a) a base which is horizontal in use including a marginal base flange, a raised pedestal having a flat support surface upon which the product rests, and a short peripheral sidewall extending vertically from said marginal base flange to said pedestal around the periphery of said pedestal; and (b) a cover which is horizontal in use including a marginal cover flange shaped complementary to said marginal base flange, a raised top wall under which the product is located, and a long peripheral sidewall extending vertically from said marginal base flange to said top wall around the periphery of said top wall and provided with concave channels along the interior surface extending vertically from said marginal cover flange to said top wall; said short peripheral sidewall of said base being snugly received inside said long peripheral sidewall of said cover with said marginal base flange sealingly attached to said marginal cover flange, a space being provided between said pedestal and said top wall in which the product is located; the improvement wherein: said concave channels terminate at a height above said marginal cover flange which is equal to or greater than the height of said short peripheral sidewall of said base such that after said short peripheral sidewall of said base is received inside said long peripheral sidewall of said cover, said concave channels terminate at or above said short peripheral sidewall; and a plurality of depressions are provided in the flat support surface of said pedestal in which free liquids from the product are collected wherein said depressions are grooves which extend longitudinally away from an adjacent portion of said short peripheral sidewall said flat support surface being spaced above said marginal cover flange.