Food container didn't start in former empire (5)
I believe the answer is:
incan
'former empire' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'food container didn't start' is the wordplay.
'food container' becomes 'can' (I've seen this before).
'didn't' becomes 'in' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'start' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'can' put after 'in' is 'INCAN'.
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for incan that I've seen before include "Of former Peruvian race" , "Of an ancient civilisation" , "Royal Family member" , "Of ancient Peruvians" , "See old South American" .)