When the time comes that you have to arrange a funeral, there is a strong possibility you will be dealing with The Co-operative Funeralcare. This is because The Co-operative Funeralcare is Britain’s largest provider of funeral services, and their branches are found all over the country. They are one of Britain’s two large chains of funeral directors, alongside Dignity Caring Funeral Services.
You may be slightly confused to see The Co-operative acting as a funeral provider, as they also run a range of other businesses. This is because The Co-operative Funeralcare is one of the most successful parts of the much larger Co-operative Group, which in total operates 4,800 retail outlets across a variety of different sectors, producing an annual turnover of more than £13 billion altogether. The Co-operative Group is probably best known for its supermarkets, which have over 3,000 branches around the UK.
The Co-operative Funeralcare is another very significant part of the group, as in total they run 800 funeral parlours across the country. Like other funeral businesses, they organise funeral services for the relatives of the deceased, and also sell pre-paid funeral plans to people who want to plan and pay for their funeral while they’re still alive.
The Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group can trace its roots back to an organisation called the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, which was established in 1844. What makes them different from a typical business is the fact that they are run on a co-operative basis so, rather than being owned privately, or by individual shareholders, the company is owned by its members – meaning that over 6 million people have a say in how the Co-operative Group does business, and are entitled to a share of the profits.
Having had a civic ethos in place since the very beginning, the Co-operative Group is well-known for its high ethical standards. This has been carried through to the Co-operative Funeralcare side of the business, as they do a number of things to ensure they behave responsibly:
- The Co-operative Funeralcare is Britain’s first funeral provider to have gone fully carbon neutral
- All clients are offered complimentary legal advice as part of their funeral package to take them through the official side of getting a death recognised under the law
- A percentage of their profits is awarded each year to community causes
With its long history of serving the community as well as delivering a good service, The Co-operative Funeralcare is that rare thing in today’s world: a major company which retains a strong commitment to doing good, rather than just doing business.
