Co-op responds to the CMA’s preliminary findings on the funerals market

13 August 2020

The Co-op, the UK’s leading funeral provider, notes the CMA’s provisional conclusions on the funerals market, which were released today.

The Co-op, which has supported bereaved families for over 100 years, welcomes the continued focus by the CMA on quality and transparency in the funerals market.

We will now take the time to fully review the CMA’s proposals and will work closely with them in supporting a market that operates in the best interests of bereaved families

Our colleagues as keyworkers have and continue to work tirelessly to support communities through the devastating loss brought about by Covid-19, and it is important that the CMA recognises the vital role our sector has played in supporting bereaved families during the pandemic.

Sam Tyrer, MD of Co-op Funeralcare said: “Every funeral should reflect the life of the person that has died and the vital role that funeral services play in the grieving process has never been more apparent than in recent months. As keyworkers, our colleagues have adapted to the challenging conditions and worked tirelessly through the pandemic, always putting the needs of the bereaved first.

“As the UK’s largest funeral provider, the Co-op is proud to have led the way in driving changes in the industry – calling for regulation of the sector, lowering prices and increasing choice and transparency.

“The Co-op has taken a range of steps to significantly reduce funeral prices and as the CMA notes, the market has adapted at pace to respond to the devastating loss caused by coronavirus.

“We have fully engaged with the CMA through the process and look forward to continuing to do so in the coming months to secure the best outcome for bereaved families.”

For further information, please contact:

Lauren Pogson / lauren.pogson@coop.co.uk / 07702 505 626

Russ Brady / russ.brady@coop.co.uk / 07880 784 442

About the Co-op

The Co-op is one of the world’s largest consumer co-operatives with interests across food, funerals, insurance, legal services and health. It has a clear purpose of championing a better way of doing business for you and your communities.

Owned by millions of UK consumers, the Co-op operates 2,600 food stores, over 1,000 funeral homes and it provides products to over 5,100 other stores, including those run by independent co-operative societies and through its wholesale business, Nisa Retail Limited. It has more than 63,000 colleagues and an annual revenue of over £10 billion.