Aldi has announced that it will increase pay for store employees as part of a £36 million investment in pay and benefits.

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.

This will rise to £14.30 per hour and £15.03 within the M25 based on length of service.

Aldi added that it 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.

The supermarket says that these rates are significantly higher than the minimum wage for a first-year apprentice.

As part of the investment, Aldi said it has also enhanced its family benefits by extending maternity pay to 26 weeks at full pay.

Aldi also says it is the only supermarket to offer paid breaks to all its store colleagues, a benefit which is worth up to £1,470 a year to store colleagues.

"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,” said Giles Hurley, chief executive, Aldi UK and Ireland. “That’s why we're making such a significant investment in our promise to never be beaten on pay for our colleagues."

In October last year, Aldi launched “colleague shops” across the country to give employees working in its offices and warehouses the chance to buy products that cannot be sold in store.

The move is part of the discounter’s efforts to reduce food waste.

Aldi said the scheme ensures products that are still perfectly good to consume find a home instead of going to waste.

The company expects to prevent an estimated 240 tonnes of food waste each year through the scheme.

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