Aldi has landed a heavy blow in the latest battle to be the UK’s best-paying supermarket, with an offer that comfortably beats runner-up Lidl.
From 1 March, Aldi’s hourly entry-level rate for store workers is set to rise to £13.50 nationally, while its London rate will rise to £14.88.
It is the latest move in what has become a twice-yearly bidding war between the two discounters, each time they announce pay rises from March and September.
Aldi played its hand early this year, saying in January that its new rates would be £13.35 nationally and £14.71 inside the M25. But Lidl went higher, announcing earlier this month that its new rates would be £13.45 nationally and £14.80 in London.
With only days to go until their new rates come into effect, Aldi is now 8p ahead of Lidl in London and 5p ahead nationally.
Aldi is also currently the highest-paying supermarket nationally, with a rate £13.02 – 2p more than Lidl’s current rate. In London, the two discounters currently pay matching rates of £14.35.
The two have long been the highest-paying supermarkets based on entry-level store worker rates, thanks to the recruitment demands of their store opening plans. They are so far the only two to offer UK-wide rates for 2026 which match or exceed the real living wage, designed to reflect the true cost of living and set at £13.45 nationally and £14.80 in London.
Waitrose has announced new rates effective from April which match the real living wage in London, at £14.80, but fall short across the rest of the UK, at £13.25.
Aldi’s latest move represents an annual rise of 5.9%, with 28,000 store workers to benefit from its £42m investment in pay so far this year.
Its rates also rise with length of service. As of 1 March, Aldi’s national rate for workers who have served a minimum of three years will be £14.47. In London, its rate for workers who have served a minimum of two years will be £15.20.
It is also one of the few remaining retailers to offer paid breaks, which it says are worth about £1,500 a year to the average Aldi store worker.
“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 & Ireland CEO Giles Hurley.
“We’ve invested over £42m in colleague pay this year because we know every single member of Team Aldi is fundamental to our success and deserves nothing less.”
No comments yet