The soft drink was the idea of Mark Stevens, who foresaw the potential based on market research which indicated that, worldwide, orange was the third-best-selling soft drink flavor (largely due to Fanta).

After extensive R&D during 1977 and early 1978, in which research was conducted on taste, color and carbonation levels, Sunkist made a grand introduction in New York by franchising it to The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of New York City, where Edward F. O'Reilly was president.

Unlike many other competing orange sodas, Sunkist contains caffeine (19 mg per 12 fl oz).

It is sold in Australia by Asahi Beverages,[6] the Australian formulation is caffeine free.

[citation needed] Keurig Dr Pepper makes a variety of Sunkist flavors.