The Co-operative Funeralcare
| 250px | |
| Industrial and Provident Society, business of a Consumer Co-operative | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Products | Funeral director |
| Parent | The Co-operative Group |
| Website | www |
The Co-operative Funeralcare is the trading name of Funeral Services Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Co-operative Group, based in Manchester.[1] It is the largest funeral director in the United Kingdom with over 900 funeral homes, 5 crematoria and 3 woodland burial grounds; it is a member of the National Association of Funeral Directors and is Funeral Planning Authority registered.[2]
In addition to its funeral home operations, the business also operates repatriation services, crematoria and cemeteries, woodland burial grounds, a memorial masonry manufacturing unit and a coffin factory. Some regional societies, such as Central England and The Midcounties co-operatives, also use the national brand,[3] while others, such as the East of England Co-operative Society, do not.[4] Customers can earn a share of the profits in proportion to patronage through The Co-operative Membership scheme.
Operations
As a funeral director, The Co-operative Funeralcare arranges all aspects of a funeral service including transport, flowers, catering, obituaries and orders of service, liaising with the relevant officiants. The business caters for all cultures, faiths and beliefs and their services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Funeralcare also provide a range of funeral plans which allow people to plan and prepare for their funeral in advance. The Co-operative Funeralcare operates all of its funeral homes according to a strict NAFD code of practice, which ensures clients’ rights are properly protected. Employees are encouraged to take a BTEC vocational qualification in funeral directing, which The Co-operative Funeralcare helped to set up.
The Co-operative Funeralcare is the only national UK funeral director brand and, in 2009, it was the first funeral director to launch a national television advertising campaign. In addition to its Co-operative branded funeral homes, Funeralcare also operate a number of private name funeral homes. These businesses have been purchased from independent funeral directors and continue to operate under the family name to maintain high levels of profitability.
In 2012, The Co-operative Funeralcare featured in the Channel 4 Dispatches programme Undercover Undertaker after an investigator secretly filmed behind the scenes.[5]
Facilities
The Co-operative Funeralcare operates Grenoside crematorium in Sheffield, Craigton crematorium in Glasgow, Stockport cemetery and crematorium in Greater Manchester, Emstrey cemetery and crematorium in Shropshire and Lichfield & District crematorium in Staffordshire.
The Co-operative Funeralcare also operates Hinton Park, Poole and Wimbourne woodland burial parks in Dorset and Mayfields remembrance park in the Wirral, Merseyside under the Woodland Burials trading name.
The Co-operative Funeralcare coffin factory is the largest in the UK. The factory produces over 100,000 coffins each year and supplies the funeral home network with its core range. The business sells memorial masonry throughout the funeral home network and manufactures headstones at a manufacturing unit in Glasgow.
Membership
A co-operative is a business, but it also acts together to meet the common needs and aspirations of its members, sharing ownership and making decisions democratically. Co‑operatives are not about making profits for shareholders, but creating value for their members. The top priority is to provide the best possible services for members and to invest in the communities where they live. This gives co‑operatives a unique character and influences what they stand for.[6]
Members of The Co-operative Group and participating regional societies earn membership points on funeral and memorial masonry plans. Points are converted into dividend at a rate agreed annually by the Board.[7]
References
- ↑ Registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965, No. 30808R. Engagements transferred from Co-operative Funeralcare Limited and a number of private name businesses in 2012
- ↑ Registered Providers Funeral Planning Authority (retrieved 21 August 2009)
- ↑ The Co-operative Funeralcare The Midcounties Co-operative (retrieved 21 August 2009)
- ↑ East of England Co-operative Funerals East of England Co-operative Society (retrieved 27 August 2013)
- ↑ Co-operative Funeralcare apologises after Dispatches investigation Channel Four Television Corporation, 25 June 2012
- ↑ Statement on the Co-operative Identity (Definition) International Co-operative Alliance, Manchester, 1995
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
