Aldi has revealed a fresh pay rise for store staff, lifting entry-level rates to £13.50 per hour nationally and £14.88 inside the M25 from 1 April 2026.

The move strengthens the discounter’s claim to be the UK’s highest-paying supermarket, with rates rising further to £14.47 nationally and £15.20 in London based on length of service.

The increase will benefit more than 28,000 hourly-paid store colleagues and marks the second pay boost for Aldi teams this year, following January’s uplift and the extension of maternity pay to 26 weeks at full pay.

In total, the supermarket, which employs more than 45,000 people across the UK, said it is investing £42m in colleague pay in 2026.

While the discount retailer is not the only supermarket to increase its pay in 2026 – with Lidl, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s all announcing pay rises in the last couple of months – Aldi added that its new minimum rates exceed those offered by other major supermarket competitors.

“Our colleagues work incredibly hard to deliver exceptional value for our customers, and we’re rewarding that dedication with the highest pay in the sector,” said Aldi UK and Ireland chief executive Giles Hurley.

The retailer also highlighted that it remains the only major supermarket offering paid breaks to all colleagues, a benefit it values at around £1,500 a year for the average store worker.

Hurley added: “We’ve invested over £42 million in colleague pay this year because we know that every single member of Team Aldi is fundamental to our success and deserve nothing less.”

The discounter has previously confirmed plans to open 40 new stores in 2026 as part of a £370m investment programme, with a further £300m cash injection to upgrade and extend existing stores as it continues its expansion drive

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