Aldi announces huge pay increase for staff in March 2026

Aldi is retaining its title as the highest-paying supermarket in the UK as it plans to pay employees as much as £15.03 per hour. The change comes in on Sunday, March 1 and accompanies a number of other benefits that staff will be able to avail of. The pay increase is part of a £36 million investment in pay and benefits by the UK’s fourth-largest supermarket. 

The bargain supermarket has announced that it will increase the starting pay for store assistants to £13.35 per hour nationally, while those working at an Aldi store within the bounds of the M25 will receive £14.71 per hour. This is an increase from £13.02 and £14.35, respectively. Rates are higher based on the length of service. Those who had been paid £13.95 per hour (the national rate) will increase to £14.30, while those working within the M25 who had been on £14.66 will rise to £15.03.

The supermarket is also enhancing maternity pay, extending full pay to 26 weeks. Pay rates for store apprentices are increasing to £12.02 per hour outside the M25, and to £13.22 per hour inside the M25.

Aldi remains the only supermarket in the UK that gives paid lunch breaks to its employees. It estimates that this gives around £1,470 more a year to store colleagues.

Giles Hurley, chief executive officer 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. That’s why we’re making such a significant investment in our promise to never be beaten on pay for our colleagues.”

Aldi has an active careers website through which people can find and apply for vacancies. 

In August last year, Aldi became the first UK supermarket to pay its employees £13.02 per hour, well above the national minimum wage.

In April 2026, the minimum wage will increase to £12.71 for individuals over 21 and £10.85 for those aged 18 to 20. Despite this, it will still be lower than Aldi’s rates.

Aldi is the fourth-largest supermarket in the UK and has over 45,000 employees in more than 1,000 stores across the country. The supermarket, which originated in Germany, has been in operation in the UK since 1990.