An eight-month project to create a brand new 40,000sq ft factory and warehouse in West Yorkshire is now fully operationally, enabling the fast-growing mattress division of GNG Group to increase mattress production capacity by more than 300%.
The £1.75m investment is expected to create at least another 20 jobs this year and a further 30 in 2023.
GNG Group, which manufactures performance foam products for the healthcare, sports, safety, consumer, and contract mattress sectors, has seen rapid expansion in recent years, particularly in its medical and consumer mattress division which includes the Komfi vacuum-packed mattress brand. In response to ongoing demand, it has relocated from a 25,000sq ft manufacturing site in Wakefield, to the newly refurbished facility in Normanton, regenerating the site that lay dormant for years.
In line with the company’s commitment to finding environmentally friendly solutions, the new 40,000sq ft factory and warehouse is equipped with low-energy lighting. Solar power and electric forklift trucks will also be introduced soon. Having achieved carbon neutral certification in 2019, GNG is planning additional investment in machinery to maximise production and efficiency in order to further reduce its carbon footprint.
Group managing director Darren Potterton, who is spearheading the company’s expansion, explained: “With a heritage of more than 40 years, GNG has established itself as a leading name in British-made mattresses, serving the UK market and expanding its presence internationally. Not only do we have a number of popular brands within our portfolio, we have also become one of the largest indirect suppliers of medical mattresses to the NHS, based on our reputation for quality and service.
“Given our expertise in the sector, combined with a skilled in-house product development team and the latest equipment, the mattress division is in a strong position to build on our position in the market with our new dedicated manufacturing facility giving us significant additional capacity. At a time of huge disruption and uncertainty within the global supply chain, we are finding that more customers here are turning to a British manufacturer they can rely on, so it’s more important than ever that we are able to continue to provide fast and efficient lead times.”
Sales director Stuart Hibbert said: “Since relaunching the Komfi mattress brand in the UK in 2020, there’s been a 70 percent uplift in sales, and, following our acquisition of The Foam Company earlier this year, we have also expanded our range with the addition of the Sonlevo brand. It’s a really exciting time for the business and this latest investment will enable us to continue to drive the market forward by improving standards in product innovation and performance, including providing eco-friendly alternatives to traditional mattresses.”
Headquartered in Wakefield, GNG Group was established in 1987 and has grown into a £10m turnover business, employing more than 90 people. It has become an international brand leader and supplier of foam-based products, primarily serving the medical, consumer and sports sectors.
