Aldi has given its approximately 26,000 hourly paid store employees a second pay increase this year in order to remain competitive in the face of rising living costs.
As of September, all UK-based store assistants at the German-owned grocery chain will receive an increase of 40 pence an hour on their current rate, resulting in minimum pay rates rising to £10.50 an hour nationally and £11.95 for those located inside the M25.
The rates that have been introduced are higher than the Living Wage Foundation’s recommended real living wage of £9.90 an hour nationally and £11.05 inside the M25.
Aldi, which has more than 970 stores across Britain, claimed to be the highest paying UK supermarket, as well as the only one to offer paid breaks, worth more than £830 a year for the average store employee.
All UK-based store assistants received at least £10.10 an hour back in February, while those located inside the M25 got a minimum of £11.55.
Giles Hurley, chief executive officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “Our new rates of pay maintain Aldi’s position as the UK’s highest paying supermarket. This announcement recognises the amazing contribution our colleagues make in serving local communities across the country. Their outstanding efforts have ensured that our customers continue to have access to fresh affordable food, every single day.”
In April, the government-set National Living Wage for people aged 23 or older went up to £9.50 an hour, a 6.6% increase on the previous rate of £8.91. The National Minimum Wage for those aged 21 to 22 rose from £8.36 an hour to £9.18 an hour, while those aged 18 to 20 saw an increase to £6.83 from £6.56. Workers under 18 got a rise from £4.62 to £4.81, and apprentices received an augmented rate of £4.81 from £4.30.