In the South, “fixin” is a word packed with meaning whether someone is “fixin’ to” do something or serving a plate with “all the fixin’s.” For Janna Tucker, that familiar expression became the foundation of a growing specialty food business rooted in family, flavor, and entrepreneurship.
With guidance from the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) at Georgia Southern University, Tucker transformed a small, home-based operation into a thriving multi-location business serving customers across southeast Georgia.
Tucker’s company, All the Fixin’s, began as more than just a food venture. It started as a blog documenting her family’s transition from Atlanta to an 1893 farmhouse in Twin City, Georgia. The blog captured renovation projects, recipes, and the rhythms of rural life. Over time, the concept expanded naturally into something more tangible.
“In the South, ‘fixin’s’ is a word that you can use for a lot of different things,” said Tucker. “Sometimes we get caught up in the main dish, but the sides or toppings—the fixin’s—are what really make it. I wanted the name for my blog and potential future business to be something unique and fun that could grow with whatever direction we took.”
That flexibility proved key. Before the move, Tucker’s family had invested in a 40-acre pecan farm in Ocilla. Encouraged by her husband, Tucker began experimenting with ways to turn the annual pecan harvest into a home-grown business opportunity. Drawing on her background in public relations and marketing, she began producing sweet and savory pecan products at home in 2018.
“I have always been very active and ambitious and now, at the home with the kids full-time, I was looking for something to do,” said Tucker. “I’m a firm believer that God prepares you for what you’re going to experience in life. I took the skills I already had, and I put them to work.”
Tucker began her new enterprise with two pecan flavors sold to family and friends, but soon expanded to local markets, retail shops, and online sales. As demand grew, she rented a commercial kitchen space and eventually opened a small retail café in Twin City, offering pecans alongside coffee, baked goods and take-home meals.
However, growth brought challenges. Managing production, scaling operations and planning for expansion required more formal business systems and financial clarity. In 2022, Tucker turned to the UGA SBDC for guidance.
UGA SBDC business consultants worked closely with Tucker to develop a comprehensive business plan, conduct market research and build detailed financial projections. They also helped her set up QuickBooks and build proficiency in using financial data to guide decisions.
“They helped me analyze what the numbers really mean,” Tucker said. “Do I increase pricing? How much should I spend on marketing? Am I making money? What do I need to change? When making business decisions, this new understanding helped tremendously.”
With support from the UGA SBDC, Tucker secured a $75,000 commercial loan to purchase property in Swainsboro for a dedicated kitchen and cold storage facility. The investment allowed her to expand production capacity and position the business for long-term growth.
In addition to one-on-one consulting, Tucker participated in several UGA SBDC training programs, including a food licensing course, Digital Marketing Bootcamp, Financial Fundamentals for Business Owners, and a Business Summit. These experiences strengthened her operational knowledge and leadership skills. She even began incorporating AI for tasks like pricing analysis and recipe scaling.
“It’s a time saver,” Tucker said. “You can’t be the expert of everything, so you can lean on tools and the advice of experts to help you out.”
Today, All the Fixin’s has grown into a regional success story. The business now offers five pecan flavors, candies, trail mix, pecan butter and seasonal items, along with café menus featuring breakfast, lunch, drive-thru coffee and prepared meals. Tucker operates three cafés in Twin City, Swainsboro and Statesboro, employs more than 30 people and has seen sales revenue increase approximately 200% in just a few years.
Despite the growth, Tucker emphasizes that having guidance made the difference.
“You often feel like you are alone when you are a business owner. At the UGA SBDC, I felt like I had a partner that knew my business and could be a sounding board. I don't know what I would have done really without them during that period of growth.”
Photos by Jeremy Wilburn Photography
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