UK's biggest funeral firm boosted by 'steady' business

The UK’s largest provider of funeral-related services today hailed its “stable and predictable” business as it revealed a hike in annual earnings.

Dignity, the nation’s only listed funeral company, said underlying pre-tax profits for the year to December 28 rose by a better-than-expected 8% to £30.1m (€39.2m).

Revenues at the Sutton Coldfield-based business jumped 26% to £159.5m (€207.9m) after the company was buoyed by increasing numbers of people pre-paying for funerals.

The company operates in three main areas, funeral services, crematoria and pre-paid funeral plans.

Peter Hindley, chief executive, said: “Dignity’s stable and predictable business has once again delivered strong growth in operating profits, increasing 8% to £47.6m (€62m)”.

The number of unfulfilled pre-arranged funeral plans increased from 188,800 to 197,300 and Mr Hindley added this is now a key driver of future revenues.

The company own-brand plan is advertised on TV by actor Christopher Timothy while it also sells schemes through third parties, including under the Age Concern banner.