In 2020, most of the world had to put its plans and dreams on hold. But brothers Kolby and Kaleb Rush, who both lost their summer internships and returned home due to COVID-19, decided it was time to flex their entrepreneurial muscles while making a positive change in the dog food and treat industry.

In doing so, the brothers founded Saint Rocco’s Treats in May of 2020 (named after the Catholic patron saint of dogs), and they made it the company’s mission to produce fresh-baked, high-quality dog treats.

Kolby, a graduate of Penn State University, and Kaleb, a graduate of Temple University, both agree that working with their father in every aspect of the pet food business while growing up was their formative education. Now, their own business has grown exponentially every year since inception and is poised to more than triple revenue now that the new Hatfield location is up and running.

“Our grandpa was in the dog treat industry, working with bones and chews, and our dad ran a co-manufacturing facility, focusing only on production, not on marketing or sales,” said Kolby. “Kaleb and I grew up working there — through high school and college, we were on the manufacturing line. Together, we shared a vision for creating dog treats that were exceptionally clean, high-quality, and fresh, using only five human-grade ingredients. We developed the recipes with our dad, testing them first on our dog, Cooper, who went crazy for them. Once we shared them with others, the response was incredible, and the business just took off from there. We loved the journey, and now it’s our full-time focus.”

As far as their roles within Saint Rocco’s Treats, Kolby explains that their dad offers strategic support and encouragement (although not involved in the day-to-day), Kaleb focuses on social media and digital presence, and he oversees production and the broader company operations.

But how did these brothers get to this point of success?

They turned to resources locally for help in building out Saint Rocco’s Treats, beginning with obtaining a loan through the Buck County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) and then further scaling with a loan with the MontcoForward Loan Program.

A Launching Pad to Success: Saint Rocco’s Treats’ Beginnings with Bucks County IDA Loan

With a mission of helping fuel Bucks County business growth, the Bucks County Industrial Development Authority (BCIDA) is Bucks County’s lead economic development agency and is directed by the Bucks County Board of Commissioners. The Bucks County IDA administers the economic development initiatives of the County Commissioners and works in partnership with many for and not-for-profit organizations to support local businesses, enterprises, and entrepreneurs.

Kolby states that this loan program was vital in getting Saint Rocco’s Treats into its first designated kitchen space in Pipersville (6026 Easton Rd.). This first facility handled all manufacturing, fulfillment, and storage, as well as served as a retail space. But to further grow the business’s production capability, Kolby and Kaleb sought to separate these functions into two more efficient facilities.

Saint Rocco’s Treats Expands with New Facility through MontcoForward Loan Program

This separate facility in Montgomery County (2880 Bergey Road, Hatfield) was acquired via the brothers obtaining a MontcoForward Loan (MFL). The MFL is the Montgomery County Commerce Department’s flagship economic development program and is a cooperative initiative of the County government and the Montgomery County Redevelopment Authority (MCRDA).

The MFL is designed to support eligible applicants and their projects in Montgomery County that have significant economic and community impacts. The MFL is a testament to the Commerce Department’s mission of making Montgomery County the place to live, work, learn, and invest. 

Kolby explains that he and Kaleb specifically chose Montgomery County because it’s incredibly supportive of business activity and has the industrial space they need.

“We pursued the MontcoForward Loan because we’d had experience with a similar program in Bucks County,” stated Kolby. “We were lucky to find a unique warehouse opportunity that fit our needs — a smaller space of around 5,000 square feet but with high 26-foot ceilings, which is hard to find. Usually, you either get lots of square footage or lower ceilings, but not both. We found the right spot in Montgomery County, but as a small startup, we’re still a bit risky for traditional banks. Knowing we’d be creating jobs in the county, we connected with the MontcoForward Loan Program, which aligned with our goals for growth in the area.”

Stephen Forster, Director of Commerce at Montgomery County Commerce Department, explains that the Loan was instrumental in the brothers acquiring the equipment and machinery Saint Rocco’s Treats needed so that the second location could handle the cold storage, meat grinding, meat mixing, oven baking, deli slicing, and dehydration. These resources and tools would enable Saint Rocco’s Treats to scale its production capacity north of 65,000 pounds of finished treats per month. He additionally stated the positive impact the company has on the local economy, as the new facility has produced five new jobs (to date).

“This second location has improved the quality of the product that we’re making, but also the efficiency in the way we’re making it,” stated Kolby.

The ribbon cutting for the new facility in Montgomery County took place on Oct. 21.

Saint Rocco’s Treats Expansion: Leveraging Two Facilities for Enhanced Production and Quality

With the Montgomery County location in full swing, Kolby details that the Bucks County location continues to be just as vital to the company’s growth. This first facility is focused on packing, fulfillment, and the making of the food, whereas the second Montgomery County is focused on the making of treats, which Kolby refers to as their “hero product.”

“That’s the biggest volume that we do, along with our sprinkles, which are meal toppers,” he stated.

It’s no wonder the dogs (and their owners) adore Saint Rocco’s Treats, as the ingredients are delicious and healthy for dogs, and owners can feel at ease feeding these clean treats and food to their pets.

“The biggest health benefit of our treats is the quality of ingredients: no fillers, byproducts, chemicals, or synthetic preservatives — just simple, clean ingredients you can recognize,” stated Kolby. “This transparency makes it easy for pet owners to choose safe options for dogs with allergies or sensitive stomachs. Additionally, we prioritize high-quality proteins, using only human-grade chicken breast, ground beef, and wild-caught Alaskan salmon and cod for optimal digestibility.”

Kolby gives the example that the salmon treats contain only salmon, vegetable oil, potato flour, and a bit of homemade seasoning (paprika, turmeric, and salt) to enhance flavor naturally.

Bolstered by fan-favorite, quality flavors and fueled by the increased production of the second facility, Saint Rocco’s Treats continues to take the pet-food market by storm, currently available in 800 pet stores and also online through its direct-to-consumer website.

“We participate in local events each weekend to promote our treats,” said Kolby. “With our new facility, we anticipate expanding our offerings with more flavors and protein options for our customers and retail partners.”

Specifically, Kolby and Kaleb hope to deepen their company’s footing in Montgomery County, stating that the county has been incredibly supportive of Saint Rocco’s Treats as a small, growing business, and has believed in their vision despite some initial risks.

To learn more about Kolby and Kaleb and their entrepreneurial journey (and to freshen up your pup’s food bowl), visit Saint Rocco’s Treats.

Learn more at the Montgomery County Commerce Department. Montgomery County Commerce Department utilizes a unified approach to providing economic and workforce development services and assistance.