Dignity funeral homes group finds covid restrictions mean simpler, cheaper ceremonies

You may have thought undertakers would be in clover as a grim silver lining to the coronavirus crisis.

But funeral homes giant Dignity today told investors it has actually suffered as church services were banned and restrictions on numbers of people allowed to attend funerals to grieve for their loved ones has left families choosing the most stripped back - and cheap - ceremonies possible.

Dignity has suspended using limousines altogether in order to protect staff and customers.

Together, this has left the average price paid for a Dignity funeral fall from £2648 to £2200.

Revenues from memorials at Dignity's crematoria also fell sharply.

The company warned that the high death rate this year could translate to fewer deaths in the next two years. Analysts said that would mean Dignity may struggle to make its normal profit margins for years. This is particularly a worry at a time when the Competition and Markets Authority is investigating a 6% annual rise in funeral prices.

The Coop, Britain's biggest funeral homes operator, had asked the government for a bailout of the industry due to them having to bear the cost of stripped down covid funerals. Dignity did not join in the request with its trading statement today. It said it had not furloughed staff or seek government support.

Chief executive Clive Whiley praised his staff as "an easily forgotten subset of key workers who all deserve our thanks."