Discount grocers Aldi and Lidl have come under fire following a BBC investigation revealing their delivery drivers are forced to do the work of warehouse staff.
In order to maintain low prices, lorry drivers for the grocers are told to unload their own deliveries, prompting criticism from both drivers and the union that neither their pay or training are sufficient.
“It was obvious to me the only reason you were doing it was for the benefit of whichever discount supermarket it was that you were visiting,” lorry driver David Janczak-Hogarth told BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours programme.
“And you forego quality control by letting any Tom, Dick or Harry in your warehouse to unload their vehicle.”
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In response to the drivers‘ testimonies both Aldi and Lidl have stated that drivers receive full training and are provided with protective clothing.
Lidl told the programme: “As a retailer, we are not unique in this approach, which has also been verified by visiting regulators.”
Rival supermarkets including Waitrose, Sainsbury‘s and Asda do not allow drivers to unload goods as they consider it to be in safer hands of fully trained warehouse staff.
Aldi responded to the report stating: “We operate an efficient business model and pass on savings to customers who benefit from the lowest grocery prices in the UK.
“The majority of hauliers support this process as it saves them time and money. It means they can quickly get back on the road after unloading.”
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