According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a preform, a mold stack for producing the preform and a method of orienting the prefom during blow molding. A preform (200, 300, 400) suitable for subsequent blow-molding into a final-shaped container ( 1002) is provided. The preform (200, 300, 400) comprises a neck portion (202, 302, 402); a gate portion (206, 306, 406); and a body portion (204, 304, 404) extending between the neck portion (202, 302, 402) and the gate portion (206, 306, 406); the gate portion (206, 306, 406) including: a pattern of depressions (214, 414) and a pattern of protrusions (218, 418) interdisposed therebetween; the pattern of protrusions (218, 418) being associated with a first thickness, the body portion (204, 304, 404) being associated with a second thickness along substantially the whole length thereof and the pattern of protrusions (218, 418) being associated with a third thickness; wherein the first thickness is substantially the same as the second thickness and the third thickness is smaller that the second thickness.