Dignity plc () is a funeral-related service provider in the United Kingdom, and the only publicly-listed company within the country's funeral sector. It provides funeral services, cremations and pre-arranged funeral plans and is made up of the following brands:
* Dignity Funeral Services
* The Crematorium and Memorial Group
* Simplicity Cremations
In the year ending 28 December 2020, turnover was £314.1m and profit before tax was £55.7m. The shareholder dividend payment stood at 46.6p per share.
History
The business was created in 1994 through the merger of Plantsbrook Group and Great Southern Group,
both of which companies had been acquired by
Service Corporation International
Service Corporation International is an American provider of funeral goods and services as well as cemetery property and services. It is headquartered in Neartown, Houston, Texas, and operates secondary corporate offices in Jefferson (New Orle ...
Inc earlier that year. In 2002 the merged business was the subject of a
management buyout
A management buyout (MBO) is a form of acquisition in which a company's existing managers acquire a large part, or all, of the company, whether from a parent company or individual. Management-, and/or leveraged buyout became noted phenomena of 1 ...
from Service Corporation International Inc. The merger brought together a number of funeral service businesses.
Dignity is an established organisation, with an extensive history that dates back to 1812. Its rich and lengthy heritage enables it to provide funeral services that are underpinned by unparalleled local knowledge and expertise.
There are currently 795 Dignity Funeral Directors across the UK. Several mergers and organic growth have brought together a number of historic funeral businesses, private cemeteries and crematoria over the years, including:
* George S Munn, Glasgow – 1812
* Francis Chappell & Sons, London – 1840
* J Rymer, York – 1848
* Ginns & Gutteridge, Leicestershire – 1855
* Lawrence Funeral Service, Halifax – 1857
* E Finch & Sons, Aldershot – 1857
* Beckenham Cemetery, Kent – 1876
* J H Kenyon, London – 1880
* Frederick W Paine, London – 1884
* Perry Barr Crematorium, Birmingham – 1903
* John Bardgett & Son, Newcastle upon Tyne – 1914
* Jonathan Harvey, Glasgow – 1928
* South London Crematorium – 1930
* Seaford & Newhaven Funeral Service, East Sussex – 1950
Operations
Dignity provides funeral services, cremations and pre-arranged funerals UK-wide through three separate brands.
References
External links
Official siteDignity Funeral PlansSimplicity Cremations
{{Authority control
Funeral-related companies of the United Kingdom
British companies established in 1994
Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange
Companies based in Birmingham, West Midlands