Aldi staff wage increase makes it one of best paid supermarkets in UK

21 January 2020, 09:10

The German retailer will be paying above the national minimum wage
The German retailer will be paying above the national minimum wage. Picture: PA
EJ Ward

By EJ Ward

Aldi is set to increase staff wages by just over three per cent, making it one of the UK's best-paying supermarkets.

The retailer announced the minimum hourly wage for all store staff will rise from £9.10 an hour to £9.40, with workers in the London area set to get £10.90 an hour instead of £10.55.

The German discounter’s new rates now exceed the Living Wage Foundation’s recommended pay rates.

Employees who have been with the supermarket for three or more years will see their pay grow to £10.41 per hour, with workers in London who have two years or more experience will get £11.15.

The discount retailer pointed out that it is one of the few supermarkets to pay staff during breaks.

The new rates exceed the Living Wage Foundation's recommended pay rates, although Aldi is not a member of the organisation, which also requires companies to agree to a series of staff well-being levels.

Retailers are in a fierce battle to keep and reward workers. Greggs recently announced that its staff would share a £7 million bonus.

And Mike Ashley of Frasers Group - formerly Sports Direct - said last year that he wanted to introduce a new bonus scheme for store staff, although details remain unclear.

The German retailer has also said it will be recruiting over 3800 store-level positions this year.

“The dedication and commitment our store colleagues deliver every day when serving our customers underpins our success,” Aldi UK chief executive Giles Hurley said.

“We have the most efficient and productive workforce, and this is why they earn the highest rates of pay in the grocery sector.”