Lidl has increased hourly pay for around 24,500 employees for the third time in the past 12 months.

Employees working in store and warehouses outside the M25 will see hourly pay rise to £11.40 from £11.00, rising to £12.30 depending on the length of service. Workers inside the M25 will see their pay increase to £12.85 from £11.95, rising to £13.15 for longer serving employees.

The supermarket said that the move makes it the highest paying supermarket in the UK, with entry level employees receiving a wage of up to 16 per cent higher than other companies.

However, Aldi disputed Lidl’s claims, saying that its workers are still the highest paid supermarket sector because it is the “only supermarket to pay for breaks”. It added that these paid breaks can be worth up to £972 a year on top of its starting pay for store assistants of £11.40 per hour, with those based in London receiving £12.85 per hour.

Lidl added that it has been in direct contact with Wilko’s HR team, to provide support with jobs following the homeware store’s collapse. Aldi has also offered roles to former Wilko employees.

Ryan McDonnell, chief execuitve at Lidl GB, said: “These rates of pay will ensure that Lidl maintains its position as the UK’s highest paying supermarket. Our people are at the core of everything we do, and this investment recognises the hard work and contribution they make in serving communities across the country every day.”

Earlier this year Aldi said it would give a pay rise to over 28,000 employees working in its stores from 1 July 2023, while Tesco is increasing pay by seven per cent.

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