Aldi introduced a new £13.50 hourly pay rate for store assistants across the UK from April 1, giving thousands of employees a higher basic rate of pay. Workers in stores inside the M25 receive a higher rate of £14.88 an hour, while longer-serving employees can earn up to £14.47 nationally and £15.20 inside the M25.
28,000 Aldi Workers Affected By The Pay Increase
The new rates apply to around 28,000 hourly-paid store employees across Aldi’s UK branches. The supermarket said the April increase was its second pay rise for its UK workforce in 2026.
The retailer also announced enhanced maternity pay earlier in the year, extending full-pay maternity leave to 26 weeks. Aldi said its new hourly rates were higher than those offered by its supermarket competitors at the time of the announcement.
Aldi Invests £42 Million In Staff Pay
Aldi said it has invested more than £42 million in employee pay during 2026. Giles Hurley, chief executive of Aldi UK and Ireland, said the company’s employees work hard to deliver value for customers and that the higher rates recognised their contribution.
The pay changes come as supermarkets across the UK continue to review wages for store and frontline workers.
Lidl And Other Supermarkets Have Also Raised Pay
Aldi is not the only major supermarket to increase staff pay this year. German rival Lidl raised its entry-level national basic rate to £13.45 an hour at the end of March.
Other major retailers, including M&S, Sainsbury’s and Tesco, have also announced higher pay rates for their employees. The changes reflect a wider trend among UK retailers as supermarkets compete for staff and respond to changes in wage costs.
Eight Aldi Stores Reopening After Upgrades
Aldi has also confirmed that eight upgraded stores are reopening across the UK ahead of Christmas. The locations are in Cardiff, Dunston, Witham, Perth, London, Liskeard, Greenock and Bradford.
The stores are scheduled to reopen between November 5 and December 3 following refurbishment work.
£300 Million Investment In Aldi Stores
The refurbishments form part of Aldi’s planned £300 million investment in its existing UK store network. The work includes store extensions, refreshed shopping areas and the installation of more energy-efficient technology.
Customers will also see changes to areas including the bakery, health and beauty, fresh food and produce sections. With more than 1,050 stores across the UK, Aldi’s investment programme covers a substantial part of its existing retail network.
The pay changes and store upgrades form part of Aldi’s wider investment in its UK operations during 2026.
