Duvalay

With over 30 years of expertise in the British bedding industry, Alan Colleran channeled his ingenuity to solve his wife Liz's chronic back pain and insomnia. In 2003, the couple designed and tested a revolutionary portable mattress topper in their family kitchen—all while raising three young sons. This heartfelt solution marked the birth of Duvalay.

The initial product quickly gained cult status, with customers enthusiastically recommending it to friends and family. Rapid growth soon forced a move from their home kitchen to a dedicated factory in Dewsbury, Yorkshire. The range expanded to include sleeping bags, custom mattresses, pillows, and toppers tailored for boats, RVs, trucks, campers, and homes.

In 2011, Alan and Liz pitched Duvalay on BBC’s hit show Dragons’ Den, triggering a fierce bidding war among investors. The exposure led to the creation of the multi-award-winning Hilary Devey Collection of beds and mattresses, now sold worldwide. The brand’s innovation earned them the National Bed Federation’s “Bed Manufacturer of the Year” (2017-2018) and the “Manufacturing Innovation Award” (2019).

Inspired by Sir Richard Branson’s endorsement—“Everyone should have a Duvalay”—the company now operates across Europe, North America, Asia, and Australasia. With plans for a third UK factory expansion and licensed partnerships in the Far East, Duvalay remains committed to its founding mission: transforming sleep through innovation, without ever losing sight of family-centric values.