SUNDROP
A CITRUS CLASSIC IS BORN
Sun Drop was created in 1949 in Missouri by Charles Lazier and was introduced nationally at the American Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages Conference in Washington, D.C., in 1951. The citrus-flavored soft drink, made with orange juice concentrate, was developed with help from Lazier’s son, Charles Jr., who spent two years helping refine the formula. In 1949, Lazier partnered with White’s Nesbitt Spur Bottling Company, which produced the first commercial batches of the beverage.
SUN DROP LIVES ON
The Sun Drop brand was sold to Crush International in 1970, where it remained for about a decade before being acquired by Procter & Gamble. In 1989, Cadbury Schweppes purchased Procter & Gamble’s soft drink division, gaining ownership of Sun Drop. The brand later became part of Keurig Dr Pepper in 2008 after the company acquired Cadbury Schweppes’ beverage division. Keurig Dr Pepper continues to own and produce Sun Drop today.
