Dreams is understood to have appointed KPMG to explore the possibility of a sale of the business for £250 million.

The bed specialist’s founder Mike Clare is believed to have instructed a strategic review of the retailer, which is forecast to achieve record profits of£15 million this financial year.

Clare is said to want to explore a sale before new rules on capital gains tax come in in April. The retailer has been linked with private equity firms including Bridgepoint. South African manufacturer Steinhoff, which acquired rival Homestyle and owns brands including Bensons Beds, may also be interested in bidding, according to reports.

Clare founded Dreams in 1985 and now operates more than 150 stores nationwide.