A supplier of beds and mattresses into the contract sector for major holiday park operators, student accommodation providers, hotels and more, Wow Sleep offers the perfect sleeping solutions. Purchasing and Sustainability Manager Leanne Dodd discussed the company’s recent expansion and sustainable practices, in conversation with Antonia Cole.
From high-quality leisure mattresses to luxury hotel beds, Wow Sleep manufactures products that meet the high expectations of customers, Purchasing and Sustainability Manager Leanne Dodd said: “We are committed to providing a good night’s sleep to everyone that uses our mattresses. Our recent expansion into a new facility will enable us to increase capacity and develop new ideas.”
Founded in 2008, Wow now operates from a 36,000ft2 production facility. The company is able to make 130,000 mattresses, whilst also recycling more than 15,000 mattresses a year. Wow continuously researches innovations and technology within the sector in order to create premium beds and mattresses.
Established in Bradford, West Yorkshire, Wow manufactures all products locally and uses Yorkshire-based suppliers where possible. This not only guarantees high-quality beds, mattresses and working conditions, but also limits the environmental impact of production through reduced necessity for transport.
“In 2010, we became the first supplier of contract beds and mattresses to offer a mattress recycling service,” added Ms Dodd. “We have always been at the forefront of sustainable innovation, and this is something we plan to maintain far into the future.”
The wow factor
The company is the only contract mattress manufacturer that presses and rolls its own mattresses. This process allows Wow to provide customers a delivery service that is optimised in terms of both storage and efficiency.
“By rolling our mattresses, we can fit more units per delivery and significantly reduce the number of trips required to reach clients,” explained Ms Dodd. “This means we are able to offer a faster and more cost-effective service.”
All photography by @Captured by Claire
Steven Hargreaves
The world’s most important textile raw material, cotton, is very comfortable to sleep on. The Better Cotton Initiative helps cotton farming communities thrive, whilst protecting the environment
“Our natural 100% cotton mattress ticking is woven from BCI Cotton,” Steven Hargreaves.
Wow is committed to making high-quality mattresses that give a good night’s sleep. All of the company’s mattresses are compliant with legal requirements for contract use, having been fully tested using an official UKAS testing company, and accredited to British Safety Standards BS7177 medium hazard and Crib 5 fire safety.
“Each mattress features individually wrapped pocket springs for incredible comfort, support and longevity for our customers,” continued Ms Dodd. “Our mattresses also have replaceable mattress covers, extending the life cycle and helping our customers to reduce waste, raw material usage and pollution.”
From 2011 where Wow secured a contract with the UK’s second largest holiday park operator to 2022 when it made a six-figure investment into foam cutting machinery,
the company has seen significant success over the years. Now, Wow is working with the largest holiday park in the UK and has recently expanded into a new factory, as well as receiving ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications.
With an extra 11,000ft2 of space in the new factory, Wow sees this expansion as a great opportunity for growth. The company has been renovating a historic woollen mill, which will economically support and create job opportunities for the local community.
“Staff are being encouraged to get involved with innovative ideas for the new building, creating a space that really supports our workforce,” said Ms Dodd.
“The warehouse is flooded with natural daylight, there are better amenities locally and improved onsite facilities. Our staff are very excited for the move, and it has been
wonderful to receive such positive feedback from them.”
As the company is moving from a leased building to now having ownership, Wow will also have the opportunity to explore more sustainable developments in operations. From renewable energy installation (in the form of a wood waste heater recently installed at the factory) to preserving biodiversity, the company is looking to limit its environmental impact as much as possible. To promote a culture of environmental protection, Wow has already identified an area behind the new factory that will become a staff garden and wildflower meadow.
Keen on green
As a company, Wow is already taking action to reduce its environmental footprint. Through the company’s take-back initiative, 720 tonnes of CO2 was saved in 2023 alone. All of Wow’s mattresses are designed and manufactured to be 100% recyclable, reducing waste and resource use.
Additionally, Wow plans collection routes so as to minimise carbon emissions. Synchronising collection and delivery schedules means that the number of journeys can be reduced, limiting fuel use and emissions.
“We promote circular economy practices with our supply chain to make the most of resources in a closed loop system,” commented Ms Dodd. “Products, materials and resources can be reused, refurbished and recycled. This helps us to operate more
sustainably. By 2026, we hope to use these initiatives to achieve zero waste to landfill.”
Wow has also partnered with the SEAQUAL INITIATIVE, a community dedicated to fighting plastic pollution in oceans. Wow’s mattress covers have the option to be made from SEAQUAL’s marine plastic yarn, taking pollution from the ocean and repurposing it.
“Sustainability is at the heart of our operations, and we are proud to be partnered with the SEAQUAL INITIATIVE,” added Ms Dodd. “This partnership allows us to make a tangible difference in protecting our marine environment. The innovative material offers customers a sustainable solution and we are thrilled to announce that some of our clients have fully switched to
using this fabric for their mattresses. This shift not only supports our environmental goals, but also contributes to cleaner oceans.”
Shared dreams
In terms of both quality and sustainability, Wow is experienced in exceeding customer expectations. Every winter for the past 12 years, the company has processed over 15,000 mattresses for the UK leisure sector. From sourcing to logistics, Wow manages every stage of operations to deliver great products on time.
“We are able to succeed in projects like this due to our close collaboration with our supply chain,” explained Ms Dodd. “We source locally wherever possible and
maintain open lines of communication to ensure that all parties are aware of expectations, potential issues and upcoming changes.”
Wow implements and supports sustainable practices across the supply chain to limit environmental impacts and improve social responsibility. The company works with suppliers that share its commitment to environmental stewardship and ethical labour practices. Through active engagement with the supply chain, Wow encourages data sharing to better understand how to minimise environmental impacts.
“We have certainly started on our path to Net Zero,” continued Ms Dodd, in conclusion. “Over the last five months we have been collating data and implementing metrics to continuously monitor our carbon footprint in Scopes 1, 2 and 3.
“It’s great to see sustainability become a larger part of the conversation with our customers. We are passionate about improving every single aspect of our operation from the products we make to the services we offer. The team all share this passion and desire to be the best we can be, which is a very enjoyable environment.” n
Darren Stega-Jones and Mark Brooman - the Co-Founders and Directors behind Wow
