A lot of people suffered when Covid-19 hit. Many lost jobs, students were unable to go to school, some were quarantined from loved ones. However, Kolby and Kaleb Rush took quarantine as an opportunity to build their dog treat brand, Saint Rocco’s Treats, together in the comfort of their kitchen.
When Kolby and Kaleb were no longer able to attend their college classes in person and were instead allocated to virtual classes, they had an excess of free time, and they began to wonder if they could become entrepreneurs.
Kolby and Kaleb first learned how to make dog treats when they were children, and their father and grandfather were the people to teach them. They created their brand based off of their childhood, hoping to have an influence in the dog treat world. Eventually, they began to formulate ideas as to how they could make this happen.
Kolby and Kaleb take pride in their handmade, human grade treats that are made fresh each day. Randi Kopelow, manager and event leader said, “What makes them human grade is the fact that all of the products can be consumed by humans.”
“We have a gourmet kitchen in Pipersville Bucks County where we make the treats,” Randi said.
Kolby and Kaleb, when first creating their brand, began to sell at the Perkasie Farmers’ Market. In the four years that followed, one market became thirteen farmers markets, an online website and shelves in over five hundred retail stores.
“We are in mostly pet stores and some grocery stores as well,” Randi said.
Kolby, Kaleb, and Randi quickly realized that it would take more than three people to run stalls at thirteen different farmers’ markets every weekend by themselves, which is why they hired an event team to help manage the work.
Sophia O, an employee of Saint Rocco’s Treats, explains how simple the farmers’ markets are. “They just drop off the supplies at your house, you go to your event, set up the tent, and sell the treats,” she said.
Sophia also talked about how Saint Rocco’s Treats stands at farmers’ markets gave her so many opportunities to interact with customers one on one while selling the dog treats.
Kolby and Kaleb said they always want to make sure their customers enjoy the treats they buy.
Sophia said, “We give out free samples to the dogs at farmers markets to make sure that the dogs like them before their owners buy a full bag of treats from us.”
Kolby and Kaleb make sure to listen to their customers and are constantly trying to add more options to their shop. These options range from vegetable-based treats all the way to meat-based dog food. Randi said, “Maintaining a good variety of products keeps customers buying Saint Rocco’s.”
Saint Rocco’s takes delight in knowing that their treats are unlike many others, making them popular in the dog treat business. Randi said, “They are a meat treat; most dog treat brands are biscuit.”
Kaleb and Randi, while collaborating with their customers, found that their dog treats are not only good for dogs but are also a great training tool. Randi explained that they are “high value,” meaning that the ingredients in these treats’ – including vegetables as well as proteins such as fish, chicken, and beef – make the treats palatable, enjoyable, and extremely rewarding.
When the dog treats are being made, only one type is made at a time, and the bowls are thoroughly washed in between flavors. Due to this, the dog treats at Saint Rocco’s Treats are allergy friendly.
Randi spoke a lot about the simple ingredients of Saint Rocco’s Treats. “Our treats are made with potato flour, vegetable oil, and our spice mix [paprika, turmeric, and salt]” she said. “The only thing that changes is the source of protein.”
Randi explained that, since the simple ingredients lack extra add-ins, many dogs that have stomach issues are not affected by consuming Saint Rocco’s Treats.
Anna Campbell, customer of Saint Rocco’s Treats, swears by these treats, “My dog has a very sensitive stomach and we never give him treats because of it, [but] Saint Rocco’s Treats doesn’t make his stomach act up at all.”
