The increase will benefit over 28,000 hourly-paid store workers and represents the second pay rise for Aldi teams this year
Aldi is set to take the crown for best-paying UK supermarket after announcing another pay rise for thousands of its staff.
The rate of pay for its store assistants will rise to £13.50 an hour nationally and £14.88 inside the M25 from April 1. These rise to £14.47 and £15.20 respectively based on length of service.
The increase will benefit over 28,000 hourly-paid store workers and represents the second pay rise for Aldi teams this year.
The supermarket announced at the start of this year that it would increase pay for its employees in March 2026. Aldi employs more than 45,000 people across the UK.
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Lidl had been set to become the best-paying supermarket next month, when it is due to increase staff pay to £13.45 an hour nationally and £14.80 in London.
Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “Our colleagues work incredibly hard to deliver exceptional value for our customers, and we’re rewarding that dedication with the highest pay in the sector.
“We’ve invested over £42 million in colleague pay this year because we know that every single member of Team Aldi is fundamental to our success and deserve nothing less.”
Aldi has plans to open 40 new stores in 2026 as part of a £370million investment programme. The supermarket is investing an additional £300million in upgrading and extending existing stores.
It comes as Aldi is set to provide an additional 1.2 million meals to families in need this year, in partnership with The Bread and Butter Thing.
The supermarket is expanding its partnership with the charity after a successful pilot at three of its Regional Distribution Centres which saw 455,000 meals donated in 2025.
The partnership allows Aldi’s suppliers to donate products that couldn’t be sold in stores, such as items with packaging damage or labelling errors, but are still perfectly good to eat.
Following the success of the pilot, Aldi will now roll the initiative out across all remaining Regional Distribution Centres this year.
Luke Emery, National Sustainability Director at Aldi UK, said: “Expanding this initiative across all of our Regional Distribution Centres marks an important step in how we reduce waste and continue to support our communities.
“Through our partnership with The Bread and Butter Thing, we’re ensuring that even more surplus food is redirected to families who need it most, rather than going to waste.”
