The sleepy world of mattress production might not to be the sexiest of business models. Yet mattresses are no longer viewed solely as consumer staples; they are a sign of comfort and quality of life. And in recent years we've seen the explosion of mattress innovators and startups from all over the world. In India, where mattresses such as the ones we know here in the western world, are still very much perceived to be a luxury item, the growth of the mattress market is skyrocketing. This is primarily attributed to factors, such as rising income levels, growing health consciousness, and growth of the real estate and hospitality industries. There has been a visible shift in consumer perceptions where the main focus is now on comfort and functionality as incomes increase. Adapting to the changing times, mattress manufacturing companies in India have adopted innovative technologies and products to ensure customer satisfaction and improve sleep quality that sways the upper middle class in India.

In today’s episode of Inside India, Ben Hayward is joined by Rahul Gautam, the Chairman and Managing Director of Sheela Foam, one of the largest manufacturers of mattresses and foams in India. Rahul is the man behind the success of Sheela Foam, a company founded in 1971 by his late mother, Sheela Gautam who required a government license to manufacture foam. The business has scaled great heights under their leadership as they've sold hundreds of thousands of mattresses on the Indian subcontinent over the last four decades. With the 1993 launch of their flagship brand Sleepwell, the company embarked on a remarkable journey of manufacturing and producing mattresses and other foam related products and has now branched out beyond India with factories and manufacturing hubs in Australasia and Europe. Join us as we hear from one of India’s most popular and experience CEOs in this quirky yet vital sub sector of consumer stapels.