Girl Scouts of the USA is expanding its cookie lineup for the 2027 season to include offerings for dogs and individuals with common food allergies. The organization announced Tuesday the debut of Patch Pals, soft-baked, blueberry muffin-flavored dog treats developed in partnership with pet company BARK. These canine cookies will feature four patch designs inspired by Girl Scout experiences, such as community and exploration.
Alongside the dog treats, Girl Scouts will introduce Sparkables, their first allergy-friendly cookie. These crunchy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, made in a factory certified safe from nine major allergens and decorated with sprinkles, are a collaboration with Partake.
Both Patch Pals and Sparkables will be available exclusively online during the 2027 Girl Scout Cookie season, which runs nationally from January through April, with direct shipping beginning January 12. This online-only sales model has drawn scrutiny from some consumers, recalling the challenges experienced with the online-exclusive Raspberry Rally cookie in 2023.
The Raspberry Rally cookies, a raspberry-flavored Thin Mint cousin, sold out rapidly and led to widespread complaints of shortages and canceled orders. The scarcity also fueled a secondary market, with the cookies appearing on resale sites at significantly higher prices, despite explicit prohibitions against resale. Girl Scouts acknowledged that demand exceeded expectations and paused the cookie for the upcoming season to address supply issues.
Some customers have expressed concern that the online-only approach for the new products could lead to similar stock problems. One comment on LinkedIn noted that Raspberry Rally's online-only status left a negative impression and suggested that dog cookies could generate substantial revenue at local booths. Other consumers have called for sugar-free options, citing the growing trend of sugar-free lifestyles and dietary needs.
Despite some reservations about the sales method, the introduction of dog treats has been met with enthusiasm by pet owners. The premium pet food market has seen significant growth, with projections indicating a substantial increase in value by 2036. This expansion into the pet treat market aligns with a broader trend of consumers treating pets as family members and seeking higher-quality products.
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