Jennifer Eaton
Owner and Co-founder of Big Jerk Soda Co. and Coastal Co-Packing Co.
As co-founder and owner of Big Jerk Soda and Coastal Co-Packing Company, Jennifer Eaton assists in beverage production, manages shipping and supports the online presence of both companies, bringing refreshing beverages and entrepreneurial resources to Pensacola.
How did studying history at UWF lead to the creation of Big Jerk Soda Company?
I first came to UWF to earn a bachelor’s degree in history with the goal to teach high school history. Eventually, I became interested in pursuing a career in the world of museums and archives through the Public History program. I worked in UWF’s Historic Trust Archives and Collections, hoping to gain work experience and seek employment at other archives or the National Park Service. I ended up traveling with my husband, Ryan, to NPS sites for the Park Service Centennial. During our time in an old saloon outside Glacier National Park, we found a ginger beer that was so delicious we were inspired to create our own and bring it back to our home in Pensacola. While creating Big Jerk Soda, we were influenced by soda fountains of old and the rich bottling history in Pensacola. What started as a hobby soon grew into a successful business that has spread from Pensacola to Panama City.
How did you further expand with your second business, Coastal Co-Packing Company?
Alongside Big Jerk Soda, my husband and I own Coastal Co-Packing Company, an organization that specializes in manufacturing beverages for other Pensacola drink businesses. Fondly referred to as CoCoCo, this business has been one of our biggest accomplishments. While Big Jerk Soda crafts all natural sodas, CoCoCo supports other local beverage companies. It is incredibly exciting that Big Jerk Soda has built enough of a local reputation that our expertise has been sought out by other entrepreneurs wanting to build beverage brands. We feel honored to help support our local community through this company.
How did your time at UWF foster your entrepreneurship?
While my history degree has not necessarily prepared me for crafting beverages, my experiences in the history department definitely led me directly to it. UWF showed me how to push for solutions in creative ways and to appreciate different approaches to one topic or problem – invaluable skills to have as a business owner. Above all else, my time at UWF taught me to find inspiration in unexpected places and broaden my way of viewing the world. At its core, being an Argo is to be a dreamer. My classes launched creative thought and the campus community fostered discussion and sharing of ideas. Pensacola is steeped in a rich history of bottling works, and being a small part of over a century of local soda history continues to motivate me.