Aldi's new £13.35 rule in all UK stores - started in March
Aldi said it was the first UK retailer to introduce the rule.
Aldi said it became the first British supermarket to raise its minimum hourly wage to £13.35 in March, 60p above the UK rate. Entry-level store assistants will get a 33p per hour boost, having previously earned £13.02, which was already higher than the UK minimum wage of £12.71 for those aged 21 and over.
It is the second uplift within a year for Aldi staff, with the retailer increasing rates above £13 for the first time in September. Those living in Greater London will benefit from an even higher rate of £14.71, rising from £14.35 an hour. Plus, there will be extra uplifts for those who have worked there longer.
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It will reach a maximum of £15.03 for people within the M25, and £14.66 for those elsewhere in the UK with a length of service bonus.
A spokesperson for Aldi said: “Thousands of Aldi colleagues are set to receive market-leading rates of pay as part of a £36 million investment in pay and benefits by the UK's fourth-largest supermarket.
"From Sunday 1st March 2026, starting pay for store assistants will rise to £13.35 per hour nationally, and £14.71 per hour within the M25, rising to £14.30 per hour and £15.03 within the M25 based on length of service.
"Aldi is also increasing pay rates for store apprentices to £12.02 per hour outside the M25, and to £13.22 per hour inside the M25. These rates are significantly higher than the minimum wage for a first-year apprentice."
Aldi said it is also the only retailer to offer paid breaks to all staff, which is worth approximately £1,470 a year for the average store staff member.
Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: "Our colleagues are at the heart of everything we do. Their hard work and dedication is what allows us to offer customers the quality, value and service they expect from Aldi. That’s why we're making such a significant investment in our promise to never be beaten on pay for our colleagues."
