Aldi Leads the Pack with Pay Boost for UK Shop Workers
Aldi is making waves yet again. The budget supermarket giant is set to raise its minimum pay for store staff to £13 an hour nationwide, outpacing its high-street rivals and solidifying its position as the UK’s highest-paying supermarket.
From 1 September, all Aldi store assistants across the country will earn no less than £13 an hour, up from the current £12.75. For those working in and around London, inside the M25, the hourly rate will climb to £14.33, compared to the present £14.05.
But that’s not where it stops. With longer service, shop floor staff could earn up to £13.93 nationally and £14.64 inside the M25, depending on how long they’ve been with the company. It’s a clear signal from Aldi: loyalty pays.
“Our people are the driving force behind our success across the UK,” said Giles Hurley, CEO of Aldi UK and Ireland.
“This latest investment in pay is a reflection of their hard work and the incredible contribution they make every single day,” he continued.
“We’re proud to remain the UK’s highest-paying supermarket and will continue to support our colleagues in every way we can.”
The move puts Aldi firmly ahead in the supermarket wage race, as other big names scramble to keep up.
Earlier this year, the UK government raised the national minimum wage for over-21s to £12.21 an hour. Since then, several major supermarket chains have responded.
Tesco will raise its base rate to £12.64 an hour at the end of August, following a previous increase in March. Sainsbury’s and Argos workers will soon earn £12.60, also taking effect in August.
Meanwhile, Lidl, Aldi’s closest German rival, bumped up its hourly pay to £12.75 earlier this year. Still, none have reached Aldi’s new heights,9 at least for now.
Aldi’s announcement lands amid ongoing discussions about living wages and staff retention in the retail sector. With the cost-of-living pressures still looming, especially in the South East, the pay increase is likely to be welcomed by thousands of workers.
