Aldi is set to become the first UK supermarket to pay its store assistants a minimum hourly wage of £13, in a bold move that further cements its reputation as the highest-paying supermarket in the country.
From September 1, the new wage structure will come into effect, boosting the current nationwide minimum of £12.75 to £13 per hour. Workers within the M25 will see their base pay rise from £14.05 to £14.33 an hour.
The supermarket also remains the only major UK grocer to offer paid breaks, equating to an additional £1,385 per year for a typical employee—further strengthening Aldi’s commitment to rewarding its workforce.
Long-serving staff will benefit even more, with national pay rates climbing to £13.93 per hour and £14.64 for those based in London.
Giles Hurley, CEO of Aldi UK and Ireland, praised his employees for their continued efforts:
“Our people are the driving force behind our success. This latest investment in pay is a reflection of their hard work and the incredible contribution they make,” he said.
“We’re proud to remain the UK’s highest-paying supermarket and will continue to support our colleagues.”
The announcement follows the government’s National Living Wage increase earlier this year, which raised the statutory minimum for over-21s to £12.21 per hour and the Real Living Wage to £12.60.
Reacting to the development, Chancellor Rachel Reeves welcomed the move:
“This government promised a genuine living wage for working people. This pay boost for millions of workers is a significant step towards delivering on that promise.”
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds added:
“Good work and fair wages are in the interest of British business as much as British workers. This government is changing people’s lives for the better because we know that investing in the workforce leads to better productivity, better resilience and ultimately a stronger economy primed for growth.”
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner echoed those sentiments:
“A proper day’s work deserves a proper day’s pay. Our changes will see a pay boost that will help millions of lower earners to cover the essentials, as well as providing the biggest increase for 18–20-year-olds on record.”
Aldi employs more than 45,000 people across its 1,000+ stores in the UK. The retailer has consistently led the pack on pay and benefits, with previous hikes outpacing rivals including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Lidl, and Morrisons.
