Aldi Shakes Up Supermarket Pay With Another Record-Breaking Increase
If you work at Aldi, your payslip is about to get a whole lot bigger. The discount giant just raised the bar again, announcing that from September 2025, store assistants will earn at least £13.00 per hour throughout the UK, and £14.33 if you work inside the M25. That’s not just a modest bump—it’s a leap past the Real Living Wage, which currently sits at £12.60. And it’s Aldi’s second pay hike in 2025, following a March rise that brought rates to £12.75 nationwide and £14.05 around London.
This move sends a loud message to rival supermarkets. Even big names like Tesco, upping their own pay to £12.64 in August, can’t catch up. Aldi is pushing hard to stay recognised as the best-paying supermarket employer in the country.
Beyond Pay: Aldi’s Unique Perks Give Staff a Further Boost
The pay increases aren’t just for new starters. Seasoned Aldi staff will climb to £13.93 an hour across the UK and up to £14.64 in London’s commuter belt. In a sector where every penny counts, that difference is significant, especially with living costs being what they are right now.
But here’s something that stands out. While many retailers stop at wage rises, Aldi hands every store assistant paid breaks—a simple yet rare benefit. For the average worker, those paid breaks are worth an extra £1,385 a year. Walk down the high street and you won’t find any other grocer matching that.
So why is Aldi doing all this? CEO Giles Hurley cuts to the chase: he says it’s all about rewarding people who make Aldi what it is. Staff retention is easier with top pay, but it’s also about recognising the hard graft—the early mornings, the late nights, and the constant energy these jobs demand. Hurley’s comments suggest the company sees frontline workers as the key engine behind Aldi’s growing success.
The fierce competition in the UK supermarket sector isn’t just about who can price a loaf of bread the lowest. Now, it’s about which brand can offer the most to its people and keep them motivated. With this new pay rise, Aldi just made its own position a little clearer to both employees and competitors.
- From September 2025, Aldi store assistants earn a minimum of £13.00 per hour nationally (and £14.33 in London).
- Experienced staff hit £13.93 nationally and £14.64 within the M25.
- Paid breaks offer an extra annual benefit worth £1,385 per worker.
- Competitors, including Tesco, trail Aldi on pay and perks.
With these changes, supermarket workers—and shoppers—are likely to keep a close eye on how other chains respond. Aldi has firmly planted its flag at the top, and it looks determined to keep it there.
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