Dignity profits rise after biggest jump in death rate for 60 years
The biggest jump in the UK death rate for 60 years drove an “extraordinary year” for funerals provider Dignity.
A shortage of burial space in London also forced more people in the capital into cremations.
UK deaths rose 7% to 588,000 last year from 550,000 in 2014, which was well ahead of the normal change of 1%-2% and the biggest rise since the mid-1950s.
A spike in flu cases and bad weather at the start of 2015 have been blamed for the surge in deaths.
Dignity, which buried Sir Winston Churchill in 1965, subsequently did 73,000 funeral services last year, up from 65,000 in 2014.
“We didn’t expect to be as busy as we were so the financial results were higher than they might have been last year. 2015 was an extraordinary year,” boss Mike McCollum said.
Underlying pre-tax profits rose 23% to £72.2 million.
The company’s revenue was up by 14% to £305.3 million.
A lack of new cemetery openings in London is also driving down the number of people who are being buried in the city as graveyards fill up.
McCollum said: “It’s cheaper to be cremated in London because there’s a shortage of grave space.”
Cremations cost around £750 but burials in London, if you can find a spot, can cost around £4000.
About 90% of Londoners get cremated, compared with 75% nationally.