Yesterday, today and tomorrow. The lifecycle of the UK funeral industry

During the course of the twentieth century the structure of the British funeral industry has changed considerably. Whilst today the family firm continues to dominate the industry, the large specialist organizations managing funerals on a centralized basis also occupy a significant position. The emergence of this type of organization can be attributed to a combination of societal and technical changes, such as the preference for cremation and the institutionalization of death. In addition, two significant problems experienced by small-scale firms have also contributed towards this shift: succession and business perspicacity. Written from the perspective of the funeral director, this article commences by surveying developments occurring in the industry during this period; an examination of current issues relating to the corporate versus independent sector then follows. Finally a number of factors are identified and discussed as likely to contribute towards the future evolution of the industry.