A Family Idea Takes Shape
The idea for Duvalay was born out of frustration. During a caravan holiday in the Yorkshire Dales, Liz and Alan Colleran found themselves struggling with an uncomfortable mattress, leading to sleepless nights and a ruined trip. Determined to find a solution, they turned to Alan’s background in memory foam engineering and began developing a better way to sleep while traveling. Working from their kitchen, they created the first Duvalay memory foam mattress topper—designed for ultimate comfort and portability. What started as a simple home project soon became a game-changing innovation.
A Dragons’ Den Success Story
As demand for Duvalay products grew, Liz and Alan knew they needed extra support to take their business to the next level. Their breakthrough came when they appeared on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, impressing the panel with their passion, expertise, and innovative approach to sleep solutions. They secured an £80,000 investment from business mogul Hilary Devey CBE, propelling Duvalay into the national spotlight. With her backing, the brand expanded rapidly, reaching more customers and further cementing its reputation for high-quality sleep products. CTA Read More
Partnering with the Industry’s Best
As our reputation grew, so did our ambitions. We developed Duvalite, a lightweight yet supremely comfortable mattress range tailored for caravans and motorhomes. Our expertise in sleep innovation led to an exclusive commercial partnership with Swift, the UK’s largest manufacturer of leisure vehicles. This partnership meant that every new Swift caravan and motorhome came equipped with Duvalite mattresses, reinforcing our position as the go-to brand for luxury sleep on the move.
Expanding for the Future
To keep up with rising demand, we made our biggest investment yet—a brand-new £1.2 million manufacturing facility in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire. This modern site allowed us to increase production while maintaining the handcrafted quality that sets us apart. Alongside this expansion, Liz and Alan’s sons, William and Thomas Colleran, took on senior leadership roles within the business. With a new generation of the family bringing fresh ideas and expertise, Duvalay was well-positioned for even greater success.
Growth Beyond Leisure
While Duvalay is synonymous with premium sleep solutions for caravans and motorhomes, our passion for innovation has led us into new markets. With the same commitment to comfort and craftsmanship, we expanded into home and specialist mattress manufacturing, applying our expertise to a wider audience. This step forward allowed us to bring our award-winning sleep technology to even more people, ensuring superior sleep quality no matter where they rest their head .For over 20 years, Duvalay has grown from a small family-run business to a multi-award-winning brand, trusted by adventurers, families, and home sleepers alike. But at our core, we remain true to our original mission—ensuring that wherever life takes you, you can always count on a great night’s sleep.
