Aldi has announced a new wave of pay increases for its store staff in the United Kingdom, effective from 1 March 2026. The move will see thousands of employees receiving a higher base rate than the upcoming national minimum wage.
The supermarket confirmed that this pay uplift is part of a £36 million investment in salaries and benefits. The company has reiterated its commitment to remaining the country’s best-paying supermarket, a claim supported by the numbers outlined this week.
Pay Uplift Ahead of National Minimum Wage Increase
Aldi store assistants across the UK will see their starting hourly wage increase to £13.35, up from the current £13.02. For employees working within the M25, the rate will rise from £14.35 to £14.71. Staff with longer tenure at the company will receive even higher rates, reaching up to £14.30 per hour nationally and £15.03 inside the M25.
This change will come into effect a month before the national minimum wage increases from £12.21 to £12.71 for those aged 21 and over. According to Birmingham Live, this adjustment means Aldi staff will earn at least 64 pence more per hour than the statutory minimum.
Giles Hurley, CEO of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “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.”
Store apprentices will also benefit from the pay review. Their hourly rate will rise to £12.02 outside the M25 and £13.22 within, which remains considerably higher than the statutory minimum wage for apprentices.
Aldi remains the only supermarket chain in the UK that offers paid breaks, with the benefit estimated to be worth around £1,470 annually per employee. The pay rises will affect all store colleagues and come alongside other improved benefits, such as extended maternity pay at full salary for 26 weeks.
Investment Reflects Aldi’s Competitive Positioning
The announcement underscores Aldi’s efforts to remain competitive in the labour market while also managing steady expansion across the UK. As reported by Birmingham Live, the company now operates over 1,000 stores nationwide and continues to invest in recruitment and retention during a period marked by high demand and ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
Last year, Aldi became the first supermarket in the UK to pay its staff at least £13.02 per hour, well above industry averages. The company employs more than 45,000 people in the UK and is classified as the country’s fourth-largest grocery chain.
Sales figures released by the company show that revenue rose by 3% year-on-year during the four weeks to 24 December, reaching £1.65 billion. The final week of that period accounted for £500 million alone, reflecting strong seasonal demand. However, Aldi did not disclose like-for-like sales, which are typically used to measure performance across existing stores.
Looking ahead, the supermarket has set a long-term goal of operating 1,500 stores in the UK. According to Birmingham Live, it opened 40 new locations last year as part of its wider expansion plan. Hurley added that affordability would remain central to Aldi’s approach moving into 2026, stating: “As we move into 2026, our focus remains unchanged – keeping prices low and quality high.”
