Funeral cost is slashed in price war
● Mutual aims to shake up sector with new move as price war looms
The Co-op group is cutting the cost of its funerals and promising to beat rival providers’ prices as it invests to win a price war in the sector.
In a move that could shake up the sector, the Co-op’s funeral division is reducing its Simple Funeral by £100 to £1,675 in Scotland and by a further £200 for its 4.7 million members. It guaranteed to beat other providers’ prices on a like-for-like basis
The Co-op group is cutting the cost of funerals and promising to beat rivals as a price war engulfs the sector.
In a move that could shake up the sector, the mutual’s funeral division is reducing the cost of its Simple Funeral by £100 to £1,675 in Scotland and by a further £200 for its 4.7 million members.
The shake-up, which includes a guarantee to beat other providers’ funeral prices on a like-for-like basis, is expected to hit rivals such as Dignity, which offers a similar service for £1,995.
Robert Maclachlan, managing director of Co-op Funeralcare, said: “Funerals are becoming increasingly pricesensitive and in the last two years we have seen a huge shift in the number of clients seeking affordable funeral choices.
“Our new guarantee to beat on price means that families choosing a funeral with the Co-op can be assured that they are receiving a competitively priced funeral, with no compromise on our high standards of care.”
Britain’s funeral market is dominated by Co-op Funeralcare and listed rival Dignity, which have been slugging it out for market dominance. The Co-op holds about 16 per cent share of the market in the UK and Dignity has around 12 per cent.
But Dignity has come under
pressure this year and was forced to issue a profits warning after a lower-than-expected take-up of its “no frills” funeral option, despite slashing prices.
It has also called in management consultants LEK to help lead a revamp to fight off increasing competition.
The Co-op said its measures follow its recent survey of 30,000 people on death and bereavement, which found that up to four million Britons suffered financial hardship after a bereavement.
They also reflect the fact that more people are selecting its most affordable funeral choices.
Mr Maclachlan added: “The fact that four million Brits have suffered financial hardship after a bereavement is startling.
“As a member-owned organisation, the changes we are making form part of a long-term focus we have on leading the market to further assist the bereaved in tackling funeral affordability.”
The Co-op said it will lower the cost of its affordable funeral option, the Simple Funeral, from today. It will reduce the price by £100 to £1,895 plus third party costs in the UK, and £1,675 in Scotland.
Its 4.7 million members will receive an increased discount of £200, or 5 per cent if greater, on all the group’s core funeral options. This will take the member price of a Simple Funeral to £1,695 plus third-party costs.