A pot belly bag which includes a bag portion having four walls and a top portion, and a floor portion; a portion extending outwardly and downwardly from the floor portion, which defines a pot belly portion; a pair of sleeves formed along either sidewall of the pot belly portion with the sleeves tied to the pot belly portion of the bag which results in the pair of sleeves and the pot belly portion functioning as a united unit to overcome various stresses normally placed upon the bag by a free flowing product in the bag which may attempt to push sidewalls of the pot belly portion outward and contact the plastic channels in an attempt to outwardly displace the chan­nel. As the channel begins to move outwardly it immediately encounters the sleeve which is tied to the pot belly portion which restricts outer movement of the channel and spreads the forces out along its entire length.