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Staff at the UK's only coffin manufacturing factory are facing redundancy after plans were announced to close the site and relocate to new premises. Co-op Funeralcare said all 80 staff at the factory in Sheildhall, Glasgow, would be affected by the transfer of operations 20 miles away to a site in Merseyside.

The Unite union condemned the plans as "disgraceful" and called for the UK's biggest funeral director to use another building in the Scottish city. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Co-op Funeralcare is a growing and profitable side of the business.

"The Co-op is investing signficant money in a new site, therefore why is it not doing this in Glasgow? This is a significant employer in an area with high levels of social deprivation. The Co-op can't dodge its responsibility to these workers."

The company has launched a consultation with staff, with the closure expected to be finalised in November if it goes ahead.

According to its recent accounts, the funeral care firm saw profits before tax rise to £116million in 2025, with an operating profit of £6million.

But Co-op Funeralcare said a strategic review had found the new site was "more centrally positioned" to allow it to "operate efficiently as a business".

A spokesperson for the company added that the new factory would "allow us to introduce the most up-to-date manufacturing equipment and help support the growth and innovation of our funeralcare business".

They told the BBC: "We fully recognise the contribution of our colleagues at the coffin factory and understand the concern and uncertainty that this proposal will cause, and we will provide full support to those colleagues impacted.

"However, we have needed to balance this proposal against the current and future needs of our members and clients, and we believe this proposed change will help deliver a more sustainable Co-op Funeralcare."