Sunquick is part of the portfolio of Danish beverage manufacturer CO-RO A/S, whose other brands include Suntop, Sun Lolly and Suncola. CO-RO itself traces its origins to 1942, when brothers Flemming and Jep Petersen founded the company outside Copenhagen.

Origins

The story of Sunquick begins with the Petersen brothers in Denmark. During the 1960s, Jep and Flemming Petersen developed the original Sunquick concentrate recipes.[1] Their objective was to create a distinctive fruit beverage by concentrating real orange juice into a form that could subsequently be diluted with water.[1]

This concentrate format became the foundation of the Sunquick brand. Rather than selling only a ready-made orange drink, Sunquick allowed consumers to prepare multiple servings from a single bottle of concentrate.

1966 — UK launch

Sunquick Orange Concentrate was launched in the United Kingdom in 1966, where it achieved significant early success.[1] The product quickly established the brand’s identity as a fruit-based concentrate.[1]

1968 — Television advertising

The first Sunquick television advertisement aired in the UK in 1968, helping the brand build wider consumer recognition.[1]

1970s — International expansion

During the 1970s, Sunquick expanded beyond Britain and became an increasingly international brand, entering markets throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East.[1] Saudi Arabia became a market in 1975, while Sri Lanka followed in 1978.[1]

1983 — China

Sunquick entered China in 1983, further extending its presence in Asia.[1]

2010 — Major global milestone

By 2010, Sunquick reported sales exceeding 1.6 billion servings worldwide.[1] Some versions of the brand’s historical material express the milestone as more than 400 million litres sold globally, reflecting a different measurement of sales volume.[1]

2016 — Ready-to-drink expansion

Sunquick expanded beyond its traditional concentrate format with the introduction of Sunquick Fruit Drink, a ready-to-drink product designed for convenience and consumption away from home. The initial launch took place in Malaysia, followed by expansion into other Southeast Asian markets.

2017 — Sunquick Ice

The brand entered the ice-lolly category with Sunquick Ice, extending the brand beyond beverages.[1]

2023 onward — New-market expansion

Bangladesh became a newer major market for the brand, with Sunquick ready-to-drink products launched there through ACI CO-RO, a joint venture between Bangladesh’s ACI and Denmark’s CO-RO.[1]

Sunquick’s original and most recognizable product remains its concentrated fruit beverage.

Sunquick Concentrate

The concentrate is the product around which the brand was originally built. Orange is the signature flavor, but Sunquick has developed a large variety of fruit flavors over the years.

Depending on the market, flavors have included:

• Orange
• Mango
• Tropical
• Blackcurrant
• Berry Mix
• Apple
• Passion Fruit
• Pineapple
• Pink Guava & Strawberry
• Mandarin
• Lemon
• Orange & Peach
• Grapefruit
• Peach
• Grape
• Fruit Cocktail

The exact selection differs between countries. Sunquick describes its concentrates as fruit-based and says they contain no artificial flavours or colours and provide vitamin C.[1]

Ready-to-drink beverages

Sunquick subsequently expanded into beverages that can be consumed directly without diluting concentrate. These products are designed around convenience and portability.

The ready-to-drink range has been particularly relevant in Asian markets. For example, Sunquick Fruit Drink was originally introduced in smaller packs intended for children and families and for consumption at home or on the go.

Ice lollies

Sunquick also entered the frozen-dessert category with Sunquick Ice, extending its recognizable fruit flavors into ice lollies.

Sunquick’s brand identity is strongly centered on fruit, refreshment, family and sharing.

Its current brand philosophy revolves around the idea of “Share the joy.”[1] The company presents Sunquick as a beverage for ordinary and special occasions alike, emphasizing moments spent with friends and family.[1]

Historically, this positioning developed naturally from the concentrate format: one bottle could produce multiple glasses of fruit drink, making it particularly suitable for households and social occasions.

The brand’s communication therefore tends to emphasize:

• 🍊 Fruit taste
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family
• 🤝 Sharing
• ☀️ Joyful occasions
• 💧 Refreshment
• 🌿 Nature-inspired ingredients

The concentrate format is arguably the defining characteristic of Sunquick.

Unlike a conventional ready-to-drink juice beverage, the consumer purchases a concentrated fruit preparation and mixes it with water according to the product’s instructions. This gives the product several practical characteristics:

1. A single bottle can make multiple servings.
2. It can be stored before preparation.
3. Consumers can prepare drinks when needed.
4. The product is suitable for sharing among several people.
5. The concentrate format became closely associated with Sunquick’s identity.

The company itself describes Sunquick Concentrate as the “founding product” and the “heart” of the brand.

Sunquick is manufactured and marketed under CO-RO A/S, a Danish fruit-beverage company.

CO-RO was founded in 1942 by brothers Jep and Flemming Petersen and has its headquarters and product-development activities in Denmark. The company currently operates internationally and says its brands reach consumers in more than 80 countries.

Its portfolio includes:

• Sunquick — fruit-based beverages
• Suntop — fruit drinks
• Sun Lolly — ice lollies
• Suncola — non-carbonated cola

Sunquick is one of CO-RO’s principal international brands and is described by the company as having been enjoyed since 1966.

One of Sunquick’s most notable characteristics is its long international history.

The brand says it is currently present in more than 70 countries across five continents.[1] Its history includes particularly strong expansion across:

• Europe
• Southeast Asia
• South Asia
• China
• The Middle East
• Selected African and other international markets

The brand’s internationalization began shortly after its UK launch, with expansion throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East during the 1970s.[1]

Asia has been an important region in Sunquick’s history.

The company records major milestones including:

• 1970s: expansion into Asian markets
• 1978: launch in Sri Lanka
• 1983: launch in China
• 2016: expansion of ready-to-drink products in Southeast Asia
• 2023: Bangladesh launch of RTD products

Sri Lanka remains an important Sunquick market, with local operations and a partnership between C.W. Mackie PLC and CO-RO.[2]

Sunquick also has a historical presence in the Philippines. Historical Philippine advertising records place the brand’s introduction in the country around 1970, when Sunquick Orange Concentrate was promoted as a distinctive concentrate-based orange beverage.

This is particularly notable because Sunquick’s concentrate format was relatively distinctive compared with conventional ready-to-drink fruit beverages at the time.

Sunquick positions its products around fruit-based refreshment. Its current official product information states that its concentrates are made with fruit juice, contain no artificial flavours or colours, and provide vitamin C.[1]

However, nutritional composition, ingredients, sugar content and formulation can vary by product, flavor and country, so a particular bottle’s label is the best source for exact nutritional information.

Sunquick’s marketing has historically focused heavily on families and shared occasions.

The brand’s distinctive bottle, concentrate format and fruit-oriented imagery have helped give it a recognizable identity. Rather than positioning itself purely as an everyday thirst quencher, Sunquick has traditionally emphasized the social aspect of preparing and drinking the beverage.

This idea has evolved into its modern “Share the joy” positioning.

Its marketing evolution can roughly be summarized as:

1960s–1970s:
Innovative orange concentrate → novelty and product differentiation

1980s–2000s:
International family beverage → household familiarity and trust

2010s:
Broader beverage portfolio → concentrate + ready-to-drink + frozen products

2020s:
“Share the joy” → refreshment, togetherness and contemporary lifestyle

Sunquick’s main point of differentiation is its long-standing concentrate heritage. It is not simply a modern fruit-drink brand that happens to sell concentrate; the concentrate is the product from which the entire brand originated.

Its distinctive combination is:

Danish heritage + fruit concentrate + multiple servings + family sharing + international distribution.

After more than half a century, the brand has expanded considerably beyond its original orange concentrate, but the original product remains central to its identity.

1. About Sunquick – Sunquick
2. Sunquick | About Us