Bringing fresh, healthy food to Britain’s dogs
Changing dogs’ lives, one bowl at a time, is the mission of Different Dog. The company, based in Shropshire, UK, creates and delivers freshly cooked meals for dogs that are free from preservatives, fillers and fake meat.
The company was founded in 2017 by husband-and-wife duo Charlie and Alex Thurstan, with the help of their beloved cocker spaniel, Crumble, who has since earned the designation of Chief Eating Officer. From humble beginnings in the Thurstans’ kitchen, the company has grown quickly and now employs more than 100 people and creates meals for more than 20,000 dogs daily.
A state-of-the-art production hub
Different Dog recently raised more than GBP 10m to build a new state-of-the-art facility for producing its meals. Industrial solutions contractor Ambrey Baker Construction was tasked with transforming the company’s existing space into a modern kitchen and production hub.
A crucial part of the new development was the construction of a -7.6°F (-22°C) cold store. The cold storage units were constructed using custom-built insulated panels, food-safe silicone seals and hygienic cladding, to ensure the safe storage of both ingredients and products.
A reliable refrigeration and cooling solution was also required, and this was designed by refrigeration experts Space Engineering Services. The company installed the entire refrigeration system, which services not only the cold store but also several chilled areas. It also provided steam distribution pipework, a packaged plantroom, ventilation systems, and domestic hot and cold systems.
For the cold rooms, the design used four Güntner Cubic VARIO Air Coolers, which offer excellent air-flow propagation for chill room applications. Three Güntner Dual VARIO Air Coolers were installed in the cold processing rooms.
These allow for a reduced air flow in areas where staff are working. The units are equipped with a special fin pitch to minimize frost formation, while also providing adequate heating capacity for a prompt foil defrost.
Designed with hygiene in mind
Güntner’s Air Coolers are an ideal choice for food processing and storage scenarios, because they are designed with hygiene front of mind:
- Prototypes are put through rigorous testing in Güntner’s laboratory to make sure that the designs are optimized for hygiene.
- All the units use safe, easy-clean materials and coatings.
- They are constructed from high quality, durable materials and components, ensuring reliability and a long life.
- They avoid gaps and sharp edges for easy accessibility and to ensure no pockets of dirt can form.
Güntner’s Air Coolers also work with all available refrigeration fluids and are optimized for use with natural refrigerants.
Different Dog’s system uses CO₂, which is both non-toxic and non-flammable, and has a negligible Global Warming Potential in refrigeration settings.
It is also not subject to the strict regulations or phasedowns associated with synthetic refrigerants, making it a ‘future-proof’ option.
Technology for today – and tomorrow
For Carl Duffy, Commercial Director at Ambrey Baker, the new Different Dog facility is a “remarkable example” of how thoughtful design and tailored solutions can make a significant impact on operational efficiency and growth. “We’re proud to have been part of their journey, ensuring that each phase of development was built on quality, compliance and innovation to support their ambitious goals,” he says.
Esteban Cordero, Project Lead for Güntner, says that the project clearly showed how Güntner stays ‘a solution ahead’ by delivering technology and engineering that not only meets today’s requirements but anticipates tomorrow’s challenges. “The equipment we provided demonstrates forward thinking design and optimized, energy-efficient performance,” he adds.