A plastic container includes an upper portion having a mouth defining an
opening into the container. A shoulder region extends from the upper
portion. A sidewall portion extends from the shoulder region to a base
portion. The base portion closes off an end of the container. The
sidewall portion is defined in part by at least two vacuum panels formed
therein. The vacuum panels are movable to accommodate vacuum forces
generated within the container resulting from heating and cooling of its
contents. The shoulder region and the base portion each define an
interlocking structure suitable to achieve a nesting relationship with
complementary mating surfaces of an adjacent container.