Abstract: A device for applying a flexible carrier to a plurality of containers includes a plurality of distal jaws and a plurality of proximate jaws, spaced apart from the distal jaws. A flexible carrier having a plurality of apertures is positioned between the distal jaws and the proximate jaws and an actuator, engaged with the plurality of distal jaws and/or the plurality of proximate jaws, is used to incrementally separate the distal jaws from the proximate jaws thereby stretching the flexible carrier to permit insertion of the plurality of containers within each of the plurality of apertures.