Method for grouping goods on a packing table, a) wherein the goods from a serial production stream are successively combined into groups by feeding a predeterminable number of the goods to a first collection zone in each case and keeping them there in stock in such a way that the goods lie one behind the other as a group (G a) in a first direction, b) wherein the group (G a) is to be considered older than a group to be formed subsequently and younger than a group already formed previously, c) wherein each individual group (G a, G b...) is successively shifted in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction into a second collection zone on a surface (F 2) of the packing table by a stroke directly to empty the first collection zone for the formation of a new, younger group, and d) wherein at least one sensor monitors the occupancy of the target position (Y max) by a group (G z), and e) wherein the shifting of the groups occurs by means of a movable thrust arm, characterized in that each stroke is variable and is selected in such a way I. that the group (G a) or the oldest group (G z) is shifted to a predeterminable target position (Y max) if no older group was previously located there, wherein the group (G a) provided in the first collection zone is shifted into the second collection zone to such an extent that this group or an older group (G z, G y...) already located in the second collection zone is shifted up to the target position (Y max) by acting upon the group (G a) to be shifted, or II. that the group (G a) is pushed up to its next older group (G b, G z) if an oldest group (Gz) is already at the target position (Y max). a) wherein the goods from a serial production stream are successively combined into groups by feeding a predeterminable number of the goods to a first collection zone in each case and keeping them there in stock in such a way that the goods lie one behind the other as a group (G a) in a first direction, b) wherein the group (G a) is to be considered older than a group to be formed subsequently and younger than a group already formed previously, c) wherein each individual group (G a, G b...) is successively shifted in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction into a second collection zone on a surface (F 2) of the packing table by a stroke directly to empty the first collection zone for the formation of a new, younger group, and d) wherein at least one sensor monitors the occupancy of the target position (Y max) by a group (G z), and e) wherein the shifting of the groups occurs by means of a movable thrust arm, characterized in that each stroke is variable and is selected in such a way I. that the group (G a) or the oldest group (G z) is shifted to a predeterminable target position (Y max) if no older group was previously located there, wherein the group (G a) provided in the first collection zone is shifted into the second collection zone to such an extent that this group or an older group (G z, G y...) already located in the second collection zone is shifted up to the target position (Y max) by acting upon the group (G a) to be shifted, or II. that the group (G a) is pushed up to its next older group (G b, G z) if an oldest group (Gz) is already at the target position (Y max). I. that the group (G a) or the oldest group (G z) is shifted to a predeterminable target position (Y max) if no older group was previously located there, wherein the group (G a) provided in the first collection zone is shifted into the second collection zone to such an extent that this group or an older group (G z, G y...) already located in the second collection zone is shifted up to the target position (Y max) by acting upon the group (G a) to be shifted, or II. that the group (G a) is pushed up to its next older group (G b, G z) if an oldest group (Gz) is already at the target position (Y max).