A packaging loader for loading products into packaging has a conveyor, a collator, and a nesting assembly. The conveyor conveys products to the collator, where the products are collected and, subsequently, transferred to the nesting assembly. The nesting assembly rearranges at least some of the products for placement into the packaging. Once the products have been properly arranged by the nesting assembly, they are placed within the packaging. The process repeats, as desired, to arrange one or more layers of products within the packaging.