The production of alcoholic beverages in Zagreb began in the 1860s at the ‘Pokorny’, ‘Arko’, and ‘Patria’ factories. Around the same time, the ‘Straža’ glass packaging factory was established in Hum na Sutli, where bottles were produced; initially for mineral water, and later for other beverages as well.

Alcoholic beverages were also bottled in ceramic bottles, and commemorative liqueur bottles shaped like books stood out for their appearance.

Between the two world wars, alcoholic beverage factories paid special attention to high-quality packaging design for their products, which were sold throughout Yugoslavia and exported to Central European countries. The first factory logos were created, and modern, colourful labels were graphically designed both to identify the products and to serve as advertisements. The labels were made using lithography and printed in Julius Hühn’s lithographic printing house and the Lithographic Institute V. Rožanskowski and Co.

Alcohol bottles were later reused for storing drinks, and after World War II, due to packaging shortages, they were refilled with other products in the factories.

The formerly small beverage factories merged in the 1950s into larger companies and hired professional designers. These companies systematically developed the design of their product packaging as a means of communication with consumers, in line with the demands of consumer society. Promotional campaigns for new beverages also became common. Modern graphic design and new printing techniques were introduced for the design of labels and promotional material.

The packaging design for the beverage industry in the 1960s and 1970s, with its modernist foundations, reflected international trends of the time.