Aldi is preparing to increase the wages of thousands of employees starting in March. The minimum hourly pay at the supermarket will rise to £12.71 from the current rate of £12.40, while London-based workers will see their pay increase to a minimum of £14, up from £13.65. Additionally, store assistants will receive a pay raise to £13.62 nationally and up to £14.23 within the M25 area, depending on their length of service. Aldi, which operates 1,020 stores in the UK and employs approximately 45,000 individuals, aims to ensure that its workers are among the highest paid in the industry.
Giles Hurley, the Chief Executive Officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, emphasized the importance of their employees, stating that the pay rise reflects the company’s dedication to maintaining competitive wages. He acknowledged the crucial role played by every Aldi colleague in delivering affordable prices to customers across the UK.
With this increase, Aldi solidifies its position as the highest-paying supermarket in Britain. Sainsbury’s follows closely, announcing that it will raise its minimum wage to £12.60 nationwide in August, while Lidl is set to pay its store workers a minimum of £12.40. The decision to raise wages comes after Mr. Hurley and other business leaders expressed concerns to Chancellor Rachel Reeves about the potential negative effects of increasing National Insurance contributions for employers.
The impending rise in National Insurance costs, which will see the rate for firms increase from 13.8% to 15% in April 2025, along with a reduction in the earnings threshold for employers, has raised fears of job losses and higher prices. Labour’s plan to raise the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over to £12.21 in April, up from the current £11.44, further adds to the financial challenges faced by businesses.
In a separate development, Aldi faced a setback in a trademark dispute with Thatchers over its cloudy lemon cider. While the High Court previously ruled in favor of Aldi, dismissing Thatchers’ claims, the Court of Appeal recently overturned the decision. Aldi expressed disappointment and intends to challenge the ruling, emphasizing that their customers are well-informed about the products they purchase and highlighting the company’s commitment to offering affordable alternatives to branded products.