New Dog Biscuit Business at Bolingbrook HS a Big Success

Who says this is a down economy?

Bolingbrook High School students, who already run a coffee shop business, a muffin business and a popcorn business, have launched yet another successful business…this time making and selling all-natural dog biscuits.

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“They’re doing this from beginning to end,” said BHS Transition Specialist Starr Caldwell. “They’re excited about it and they’re learning.”

For now, seniors Ashley Ryan and Major Love are the sole proprietors of the dog biscuit business, with a little help from Caldwell and the BHS transition team.

They organize the ingredients in color-coded containers before mixing them together (using a not-so-secret recipe) in a blender. They put the resulting dough through a dough roller and then use bone-shaped cookie cutters to make each individual dog biscuit. The biscuits are put on a cookie sheet, baked and cooled overnight.

The next day Ryan and Love count the biscuits, place them in bags and then seal the bags for transport to the Valley View School District 365U Administration Center in Romeoville, where they are placed on sale for 50 cents a bag.

“Sales are excellent,” Caldwell said, pointing out the first day, everything sold out in 35 minutes.

In fact, sales are so good, the organic, gluten free dog treat business has already expanded into several teachers’ lounges at BHS and will soon branch out to the offices of a couple of local chiropractors. That, of course, means more personnel will have to be hired with potential employees having to go through the same type of job interview process Ryan and Love went through.

“This is giving them some really great life skills,” Caldwell said. “They’re learning for themselves what it means to be able to prepare things and also what it means to have a job.”

Editor's note: This press release is from Valley View School District 365U.