Aldi and Lidl’s battle to be the highest-paying supermarket appears to once again be erupting into a bidding war, with the latter the latest to lay its hand.
From 1 September, Lidl is increasing entry-level hourly pay to £13 nationally and £14.35 within the M25.
It comes two weeks after Aldi announced new rates, also effective from 1 September. Lidl’s new national rate matches Aldi’s, making them jointly the first supermarkets to pay a minimum £13 an hour across the UK.
But in London, Lidl has gone 2p higher than Aldi’s new rate of £14.33 an hour.
The pattern echoes the last time the pair raised rates, but in reverse. Aldi set the bar first, only for Lidl to match it within the M25 but go higher elsewhere. Then Aldi matched Lidl’s offer nationally but went higher inside the M25 – all before the rates came into effect from 1 March. It left both paying a current £12.75 an hour nationally and Aldi paying £14.05 an hour within the M25 to Lidl’s £14.
The pair have long paid the sector’s highest entry-level shopworker rates, with their store opening plans requiring constant recruitment.
Read more: Aldi sees and raises Lidl’s pay offer for store workers
Lidl has said it will open 40 new stores this financial year and increase the pace next year. Aldi plans to create 1,600 new store jobs throughout 2025, and open a store a week on average between now and the end of the year.
Lidl currently has about 980 stores to Aldi’s roughly 1,050. Both are aiming for 1,500 in the long term.
Both also offer higher rates after a minimum length of service. From 1 September, Lidl’s will rise to £13.95 an hour after three years’ service nationally and to £14.65 after two years’ service within the M25.
The September rise will be Lidl’s fifth in two years, representing a £70m investment, according to the discounter.
“Over the last two years, we’ve held our spot as the fastest-growing bricks-and-mortar supermarket,” said Lidl GB chief people officer Stephanie Rogers.
“This continued success is made possible because of the ongoing efforts of our colleagues, including customer assistants, shift managers, warehouse operatives and cleaners, whose commitment is greatly appreciated. In recognition of their contribution, we continue to ensure we are market-leading on pay.”
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