The Vita Group acquires mattress maker Usleep

Manchester private equity firm NorthEdge and The Belfield Group have completed the sale of specialist mattress maker Usleep to Middleton-based premium foam maker The Vita Group for an undisclosed sum
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Usleep, a subsidiary of decor and homeware maker Belfield, received a private equity investment from NorthEdge in 2016
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It provides an end-to-end service to customers, from product design and development to fulfillment, at two well-invested production sites in Ashton-under-Lyne and Castle Donnington
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Usleep is a zero waste to landfill business that works closely with suppliers and customers to encourage sustainability and best-in-class business ethics
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The divestment of the Usleep subsidiary provided NorthEdge Fund II with its second strong return in the last quarter, following a successful partnership between NorthEdge and Belfield
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Significant investment in Usleep's production facility during the partnership provides capacity for growth and delivers market-leading operational efficiencies through semi-automated production - the business' EBITDA doubled during the investment period Fan
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Usleep serves the market's leading direct-to-consumer and omni-channel retailers, and Usleep's trading has continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic due to a shift in structural channels to online and segment growth in foam and hybrid mattresses strong
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Vita's acquisition of Usleep will allow the business to continue to grow its manufacturing capabilities and further expand its international presence
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The business will continue to be led by Mattress Division general manager Paul Glynn and Usleep general manager Tina Tombs
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Gary Lasham, Belfield's chief executive, said: "NorthEdge's support for us has been excellent
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They have supported the business with more than £6 million in investment over the past four years to support continued business growth, including in 2018 for An investment of £2 million to expand Usleep's manufacturing capacity
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They also drive our continued focus on operational excellence, people and health and safety
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Together we have built a high-performing business and we are delighted to have found a new partner for Usleep, which will bring enabling the business to continue to achieve its full potential
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Tom Rowley, NorthEdge's director and head of Yorkshire and North East, said he led Belfield's MBO in 2016 along with NorthEdge managing partner Grant Berry
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"Usleep has been a strong business within the Belfield Group
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It is led by an experienced senior leadership team and has long-standing customer and supplier relationships
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"During our partnership, we have made significant investments in Usleep's facilities with a focus on delivering operational excellence
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As a result, Usleep is the partner of choice for high-growth omni-channel and online retailers and has the ability to continue expanding to meet the growing demand
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Nicola McQuaid, director of NorthEdge, said: “It was critical for us to find the right partner for Usleep’s next phase of development.

Vita has been supplying Usleep for some time, so they have been working with the business and management The team has built strong relationships and seriously recognises Usleep's growth potential in the UK and internationally
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We look forward to seeing the business continue to grow in the years to come under Paul and Tina's leadership
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Paul Glynn, Usleep's general manager, said: "We would like to thank the teams at Belfield and NorthEdge for their support over the years, and we can't wait to see the future of Usleep's partnership with Vita
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Group CEO Ian Robb, speaking on behalf of Vita, said: "We are very excited about Usleep joining the Vita family.

Usleep aligns with our values ​​of safety, responsibility, resourcefulness, integrity and innovation
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We look forward to supporting our customers together.
and suppliers
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This acquisition will enable innovative collaboration across end-to-end services, from unique foam technologies to innovative mattress designs
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This will be Vita's third acquisition in 2021, following Vita's acquisition of Naples, Italy-based IMPE Srl in the first quarter and UK-based Technical Foam Services in the second quarter
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The acquisition of Usleep greatly enhances and accelerates Vita's strategy to grow its bedding business in Europe
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Vita has existing mattress production facilities in France, Germany, Romania, the Netherlands, the UK and Hungary
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Vita has long-term strategic relationships with a range of global partners in the bedding sector, building extensive R&D capabilities through its innovation centres in the UK (bedding) and Lithuania (chemical/formulation)
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