With BCH Cook Cool technology.
Pet Food Production Equipment: How Different Dog Scaled with BCH's Cook Cool System
Different Dog, a premium fresh dog‑food manufacturer based in Telford, set out to improve both the consistency and efficiency of their cooking and cooling processes. After installing a BCH 1000 kg Cook Cool System, the team experienced dramatic gains in batch size, cooling time, labour efficiency, and final product quality.
This case study explores how BCH’s technology and support helped streamline operations and raise product standards for one of the UK’s most innovative pet‑food brands.
The Challenge
Before adopting BCH technology, Different Dog relied on small 100 kg vessels that limited them to smaller batch sizes and occasionally led to inconsistencies between cooks.
Their cooling process was equally restrictive. Each batch required as long as 90 minutes in a blast freezer to reach 5°C, and operators had to manually move many trays into the cooling zone, adding time, labour, yield challenges and complexity.
As demand increased, it became clear that Different Dog needed a scalable, streamlined system to support their growth.
The Solution: BCH 1200L Cook Cool System
Different Dog chose to install a 1000kg BCH Cook Cool System, a fully integrated cooking and vacuum‑cooling solution designed for efficient, large‑scale batch production.
Cooking Performance
From day one, the improvement in cooking performance was clear. Batch volumes increased from 100 kg vessels to 1,000 kg, allowing Different Dog to produce 1,000 kg of food per batch with consistent, repeatable results thanks to the system’s automated cooking programme FlexiChef.
The vessel’s horizontal agitator provides a top‑to‑bottom mixing, and its finger‑style design helps break down larger protein pieces without damaging ingredients. A two‑tiered grill allows bulk additions via tote bin and safe manual dosing of smaller ingredients, with a safety interlock that stops the agitator when the lid is lifted.
Cooling Efficiency
Our vacuum cooling technology reduces chill‑down to 30 minutes, replacing the old 90‑minute blast‑freezing method. Along with no more wheeling batches into freezers as everything is transferred seamlessly within the system.
A bespoke feature enables a small amount of water to support the vacuum‑assisted transfer, which is removed during the cooling process. This ensures the cooking vessel is fully emptied and ready for the next batch.
Results
The impact of the BCH 1000 kg Cook‑Cool System was immediate and measurable, delivering significant gains across efficiency, product quality, and operational workflow.
- 10× increase in production capacity
Moving to a 1,000 kg system enabled Different Dog to produce 1,000 kg of food per cook, dramatically improving throughput and meeting growing demand with ease.
- Over 65% reduction in cooling time
Cooling times dropped from 90 minutes in a blast freezer to just 30 minutes using BCH’s vacuum cooling technology, a major improvement in both speed and food safety.
- Consistent, repeatable product quality
FlexiChef our automated cooking programme combined with controlled mixing delivered far greater batch‑to‑batch uniformity.
- 10% improvement in visual food quality
Gentler mixing, accurate moisture control and rapid cooling helped maintain shape, colour, and ingredient integrity.
- Streamlined workflows and reduced labour
The integrated cook-to-cool design removes the need to wheel bins into blast freezers, reducing manual handling while enabling operators to focus on higher-value tasks.
- Faster turnaround between batches
Vacuum‑assisted transfer and complete vessel emptying allow the next batch to begin sooner, supporting higher daily production volumes.
Installation & Support
The installation of the BCH 1000 kg Cook‑Cool System was designed to be smooth, supported, and hands‑on from start to finish. BCH managed the full setup onsite, ensuring the equipment was installed safely, correctly, and with minimal disruption to Different Dog’s operations.
Training
To help the team feel confident using the new system from day one, BCH provided intensive one‑week training, covering everything from operation and safety to batch optimisation and cleaning procedures. This gave the production team the practical knowledge they needed to run the system independently and make the most of its capabilities.
Support
Communication didn’t stop once installation was complete. BCH maintained ongoing, real‑time support through a dedicated WhatsApp group, giving the Different Dog team direct access to BCH engineers whenever questions arose. Whether a quick query or technical clarification, support was available instantly, helping the team get up to speed quickly and keep production running smoothly.
Chloe Oakley — Head of Production, Different Dog
“During the installation process, BCH came to site and handled everything. We had intensive training for a week, communication was really high, and we had a WhatsApp group chat, which we still have now. Anytime of day, no matter how silly the question, they’re there to help”
As production has grown and processes have become more efficient, the biggest reward is seeing the final result of nutritious, fresh meals enjoyed by the dogs they’re made for. The improvements behind the scenes at Different Dog all come down to one purpose of delivering better food for happier, healthier pets.
By: Nick Salford
April 1, 2026