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The Times & The Sunday Times
The Times & The Sunday Times
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Growing up fast

Peter Evans
The Sunday Times
Jan van der Velde, founder of Kent-based Kit for Kids
Jan van der Velde, founder of Kent-based Kit for Kids
JUSTIN SUTCLIFFE
Peter Evans
The Sunday Times

A Kent-based maker of high-end cot mattresses, carpets and furniture for toddlers and children has raised £3.7m from a private equity investor.

Kit for Kids, founded by Jan van der Velde, plans to use the investment from Connection Capital for research and development and to improve customer service.

Van der Velde, 53, worked as an engineer and accountant before striking out on his own in 1993.

His products are stocked by retailers including John Lewis, Toys R Us and Mothercare and sold in about 30 countries.

Kit for Kids also sells to schools and nurseries. Cot mattresses are its best-seller, priced at up to £130.

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Last year the company reported profits of £79,157 on revenue of £6.4m.