Samara's wealthiest funeral directors named in Russian top-100

The 100 most influential participants in Russia«s funeral market have been revealed. The »Forbes «Ritual» List« was published by the Telegram channel »Funeral Trust«.

Among the companies featured in this top list are businessmen from Samara Oblast. In 8th place is «Funeral Home No. 1» and its owner Andrey Zikeyev.

This company«s revenue amounted to 980 million rubles (approximately $10.9 million at current rates). Comparing figures for 2024, it recorded a growth of 3.2%. However, there is no data on the profit of »Funeral Home No. 1«.

According to the «Kontur.Fokus» service, the founder of the Tolyatti-based LLC «Funeral Home No. 1» is listed as Andrey Zikiyev, and the director is Irada Mamedova. The former has experience in leading or managing similar companies in Tolyatti: LLC «Spetskombinat» (removed from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities), MUP «Spetskombinat Ritualnykh Uslug Tolyatti» (ceased operations), and the trade union organization of MUP «Spetskombinat Ritualnykh Uslug Tolyatti» «Gvozdika». Irada Mamedova was also the director and co-owner of Tolyatti«s »Spetskombinat«. Moreover, she still manages or is listed as the owner of LLC »Tolyattinskiy Torgovo-Servisnyy Tsentr «Ital-Kholod»«, LLC »Ritservis«, LLC »Spetstrans«, and LLC »Tolpit«. Another legal entity is an individual entrepreneur specializing in making monuments.

«Tolyatti entrepreneurs operating under the brand »Funeral Home No. 1« keep the largest cities of Samara Oblast under a tight lid—they handle almost all funerals in Tolyatti and hold large market shares in funeral services in Samara, Syzran, and Zhigulyovsk.

Formally, it is a network of individual entrepreneurs, but in reality, it is a streamlined vertical with roots in the 1990s (according to some reports, linked to the «Sheykinskiye» organized crime group), which is now actively being «laundered». The funeral directors are building their own funeral homes and trying to distance themselves from their old reputation.

After the incident with the discovery of corpses in «a refrigerator from »Pyaterochka«» and the Samara clashes with former deputy Azat Tuysmasov, the company chose silence. «It can be said that »Funeral Home No. 1« has established itself as a major but least public player in the region,» characterized the company Ivan Golunov, author of the Telegram channel «Funeral Trust».

In 74th place in the ranking is another company from Samara Oblast—«Spetskombinat Ritualnykh Uslug», its director is Denis Ananyev. According to the latest data, the LLC«s revenue amounted to 150.2 million rubles (approximately $1.7 million at current rates). Growth of 1.4%. However, the company shows a loss—minus 1.6 million rubles (approximately $18,000 at current rates).

«The municipal »Spetskombinat Ritualnykh Uslug« in Samara and its director Denis Ananyev are facing difficult times. New governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev has threatened to bring order to the funeral business, and the largest enterprise in the regional center will not go unnoticed. Previously, Ananyev headed the company »Dom Angelov«, associated with the notorious funeral director Azat Tuymasov,» explained Ivan Golunov.

«Spetskombinat Ritualnykh Uslug» is registered in Samara. This company was reorganized from the eponymous MUP, which existed since 1997. The founder is listed as the Department of Property Management of Samara, and the director is Denis Ananyev. In addition to the aforementioned «Dom Angelov», the businessman was the director and participant of the Union of Ritual Organizations «Ritual», LLC «Lime», and LLC «Promo Logistik», and managed LLC «Samarasnabspecstroy».

How Much Do Funerals Cost

According to Rosstat, in Samara Oblast in 2024, funerals cost 41,145 rubles (approximately $460 at current rates).

«The calculation is simple—I divided the turnover of the funeral market by the number of deaths in that period. This is the lowest price among million-plus cities,» claims Ivan Golunov.

According to the author of «Funeral Trust», this is due to the poor cash discipline of players in the funeral market.

«Most funeral directors in Samara do not issue cash receipts, but ask for cash or a bank transfer. From these incomes, they do not pay taxes or report to the tax office. In reality, the average funeral in Samara now costs 100-120 thousand rubles (approximately $1,100-$1,300 at current rates),» justified the journalist.

Dear readers! Share your experience. Please tell us in the comments how much you paid for a funeral and a cemetery plot? What problems did you encounter?