An apparatus for forming a predetermined collation of rod shaped articles, in particular smoking articles, includes a feeder arrangement, and a pocket. The pocket is adapted to house a predetermined number of rod shaped articles in the predetermined collation in a predetermined position within the pocket. The apparatus further includes a hopper with a plurality of hopper vanes, wherein each hopper vane is at least associated to one predetermined position in the pocket. The feeder arrangement includes a first feeder being adapted to provide a first subgroup of rod shaped articles of a first type to a first subset of hopper vanes, a second feeder being adapted to provide a second subgroup of rod shaped articles of a second type to a second subset of hopper vanes, and a third feeder being adapted to provide a third subgroup of rod shaped articles of a third type to a third subset of hopper vanes.