In Ukraine, sweetened condensed milk is more than just an ingredient. It’s the taste of childhood and an integral part of the country’s culinary heritage.
The Pervomaisky Milk Canning Plant (PMKK) processes around 300 tonnes of raw milk each day. 96 percent of its product range is devoted to sweetened condensed milk, and a third of that is the caramelised Iriska.
When PMKK and Vetropack set out to redesign the iconic Iriska jar, the goal was clear: to modernise the packaging without losing the product’s familiar identity.
However, condensed milk is not an easy product to package. During caramelisation, the jars spend more than an hour at temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius. The packaging must withstand thermal stress, internal pressure and the higher weight of condensed milk during production and transport.
This required careful attention to every detail:
- optimising the bottom geometry to reduce stress during heating,
- adjusting the heel radius and stabilising critical zones for greater strength,
- creating a recessed label surface for better protection during transport,
- a new twist-off lid for improved sealing and easier opening.
Even the neck diameter was carefully adjusted to fit a dessert spoon, based on knowing how people actually enjoy Iriska in real life.
The result? A customised 442 millilitre glass jar that combines technical performance with a modern premium look.