Alex Fasciano, an analyst for CFRA Research suggests that quick service restaurant player KFC’s (formerly Kentucky Fried Chicken) strategy is “. .centered on driving growth through brand relevance, marketing innovation, (and) operational excellence. . . .”

It turns out that the iconic brand was losing customer count and sales to other competitors in the market.  But the new innovations that they have put in, including a new store concept, has begun increasing sales.  As I read this article from the New York Post titled, “From slump to sizzle: KFC’s recipe for a comeback” it made me think of traditional funeral homes that have lost some market share to the cremation providers.

You see, I look at traditional funeral homes as once having all of the “relevance” in terms of consumer choices for Death Care.  Back in the 1970’s, 1980, and 1990’s traditional funerals were still well over 50% of the choice of consumers and the relevance of that full-service traditional funeral home as the business that included, embalming, caskets, visitation rooms, and more was what consumers were looking for.

Eventually, the number of consumers that preferred cremation started to, and continued to rise to numbers that now reach a 60% preference point and recent surveys by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) tell us that number could rise to a 83% preference rate within a decade or two.

The question would then be. . . .What type of “relevance” does the traditional funeral home hold for the consumers that choose cremation or direct cremation with no services?  A consumer might look at a traditional funeral home as having a lot of extra overhead for what that consumer is choosing. . . . And, a beautiful traditional funeral facility can be an asset that draws in clientele, even cremation clientele, but it can also represent to some consumers an additional overhead perception that they might not be willing to pay.

It’s interesting because that is somewhat the KFC story in the last couple of decades.  Once the staple for family meals with the red and white buckets full of fried chicken for the entire family, the chain started losing its relevance to a consumer that no longer dined with the entire family or wanted to eat full-bone fried chicken.

As a matter of fact, this article from The Street made the comment that “KFC had fallen into fifth place in terms of consumer spending, trailing behind competitors such as Popeyes, Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane’s, and Wingstop.”  In essence, the traditional KFC fell out of “relevance” with the chicken consumer.

That loss in spending at KFC was brought on in part by KFC trying to “be the same they always had been” selling family style meals and buffets while consumers started to show an affinity for chicken sandwiches that you might find at Chick-fil-A or chicken wings that you might find at any number of restaurants.

KFC finally became very bold and launched a new style of chicken restuarant, Saucy. Saucy, according to one article, “(is) trying to rejuvenate KFC by leaning into its own version of the chicken sandwich, an item that’s stoked intense rivalries among major chains, and other new innovations such as spicy wings and potato wedges, which have proven popular among new customers.” 

The effort started late in 2024 and now the Saucy locations, which are only about half the size of a typical KFC are “selling about twice as much as a typical KFC store, or roughly $2.6 million in annual sales.”  It’s been so successful that KFC is intent on fast-tracking more locations.

Tom Anderson
Funeral Director Daily

Funeral Director Daily take:  So, what’s the moral of this story and its relationship to traditional funeral homes?

From my point of view, it’s all about staying “relevant” with the consumer and their needs and wishes.  Traditional funeral homes will serve about 15% of the population that want casketed burials come 15 years from now.  Yes, they can still serve cremation families — but might there be a better way to serve those cremation families and keep them in your business fold rather than have them go to an online cremation provider?

Maybe a smaller facility built exclusively for the cremation consumer might be a thought.  I’m guessing it was pretty difficult for KFC to open stores where they don’t sell the product that built the company — fried chicken.  But, it appears that coming back to “relevance” with what the consumer wants is going to pay dividends for them in the future.

Maybe the same thing could happen in Death Care.

More news from the world of Death Care:

Enter your e-mail below to join the 3,201 others who receive Funeral Director Daily articles daily

“A servant’s attitude guided by Christ leads to a significant life”

Tukios Introduces “New Horizon Obituary Template,” A Modern Way to Honor a Life

Ogden, UT – November 5, 2025 — Tukios, a leader in funeral technology solutions, is proud to announce the launch of the New Horizon Obituary Template, the latest addition to its suite of online memorial tools. This thoughtfully designed template provides families with a fresh, modern way to celebrate a life well lived while ensuring the person being remembered remains the focal point.

The New Horizon Template features a full-screen video presentation, giving it a cinematic, personal touch that draws attention to the decedent. The clean, contemporary design enhances the tribute experience, allowing families to share memories in a way that feels both intimate and visually engaging.

Designed to Complement the New Video Obituary Cover Art
In addition to the full-screen layout, the New Horizon Template pairs beautifully with Tukios’ new video obituary cover art. This cohesive design element ensures that the obituary and video tribute seamlessly complement each other. With multiple stock video options to choose from, funeral homes can easily customize each obituary to suit the unique tone and personality of the service.

Simple Activation with Support from the Tukios Team
Due to the template’s new features, the New Horizon Obituary Template requires initial activation by the Tukios team. Once enabled, it integrates seamlessly into a funeral home’s existing Tukios workflow, ensuring it’s just as easy to use as the current obituary templates. To get started, funeral homes can reach out to their Tukios account manager or contact the Tukios support team at tukios.com or by phone at (801) 682-4391.

Supporting Families in Meaningful Ways
The New Horizon Template helps families reflect on and celebrate their loved one’s life with dignity and respect. By providing a beautiful, personalized space to share memories, this template elevates the online tribute experience and creates a meaningful environment for visitors to reflect on treasured moments.

Availability
The New Horizon Obituary Template is available at no additional cost for funeral homes hosting their websites with Tukios. Funeral professionals can reach out to their Tukios account manager to learn more about this exciting new feature.

About Tukios
Tukios creates software to improve funerals. Their innovative platform powers thousands of funeral home websites, stunning video tributes, and streamlined e-commerce experiences. Tukios is known for leading the profession in AI technology, offering tools that simplify day-to-day tasks, elevate the online experience, and keep funeral homes visible and relevant in an ever-changing digital landscape. Whether it’s a family visiting a website or an AI assistant helping with funeral arrangements, Tukios ensures your story is told clearly and beautifully every time.