Discount retailers have shown that the use of optimised shelf-ready packaging can reduce costs significantly for handling and logistics, even while upgrading the presentation of the product.

As much as 90% of the products found on the shelves at discount retailers were packaging in SRP, one study by GS1 Germany determined.

Discount retailers lay out clear directives for product manufacturers: packaging has to be high-quality, elegant looking and likely to spur impulse buying. SRP for discounters has to be attractively designed and ready for immediate international use. At the same time the packaging has to be stackable on the shelf, cover and tray cannot be glued to one another and the packaging needs to allow for alternative facings where possible. Depending on the product range, mixed boxes are preferred.

Discounters hate "dead spots" on the shelves where a half of a product has sold out, leaving an unattractive and empty looking carton. A number of solutions are possible, including the popular solution of packaging with printing on the inside or integrated systems to move the goods forward once taken.