Aldi, the UK's fourth-largest supermarket, is injecting £36 million into a major pay and benefits uplift for its workforce, reinforcing its pledge to offer the best rates in the retail sector.
New Market-Leading Pay Rates
From Sunday, 1 March 2026, Store Assistants will see their starting pay increase to £13.35 per hour across the country. For those working within the M25, the starting rate will be even higher at £14.71 per hour.
Pay will rise further based on length of service, reaching up to £14.30 per hour nationally and £15.03 per hour inside the M25. The supermarket is also boosting wages for its Store Apprentices, who will now earn £12.02 per hour outside the M25 and £13.22 per hour inside it, rates significantly above the national minimum wage for first-year apprentices.
Enhanced Benefits and Corporate Commitment
Beyond the pay rise, Aldi is strengthening its family-friendly policies. Maternity pay will be extended to 26 weeks at full pay. The retailer also remains the only major supermarket to provide paid breaks for all store colleagues, a benefit worth up to £1,470 annually per employee.
Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, stated: "Our colleagues are at the heart of everything we do. Their hard work and dedication is what allows us to offer customers the quality, value and service they expect from Aldi. That’s why we're making such a significant investment in our promise to never be beaten on pay for our colleagues."
Linking Pay Rise to Community Support
This announcement follows Aldi's recent community efforts over the festive period. The supermarket donated more than 1.5 million meals to people in need by partnering with local charities via the community platform Neighbourly.
Aldi provided surplus fresh and chilled food from its stores after closing early on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Neighbourly reported that four in five charities have seen demand for their services rise, with food bank use expected to increase by nearly 30% over the winter months. Aldi has collaborated with Neighbourly since 2019, donating surplus food from all its UK stores.
The combined actions of investing in staff and supporting communities underscore Aldi's dual focus on internal welfare and external social responsibility as it continues to grow its presence in the competitive UK grocery market.
