Aldi will bring in a new £13.50 rule in days, in a major boost for its workforce. From Wednesday, April 1, Store Assistants working at UK branches will earn £13.50 per hour nationally, with those working inside in the M25 getting £14.88.

They pay rates increase to £14.47 and £15.20, respectively, based on length of service. The german chain says the change will benefit 28,000 hourly-paid store workers, marking the second pay rise for Aldi teams in 2026 alone, after January's announcement of enhanced rates and extended maternity pay to 26 weeks at full pay.

Aldi says its new rates are higher those of all its competitors. Together, these changes represent a £42 million investment in colleague pay this year.

The groceries giant says it is also the only major supermarket that offers paid breaks to all its staff, a benefit worth around £1,500 per year to the average store worker.

Aldi UK and Ireland chief executive Giles Hurley said: "Our colleagues work incredibly hard to deliver exceptional value for our customers, and we're rewarding that dedication with the highest pay in the sector.

"We've invested over £42 million in colleague pay this year because we know that every single member of Team Aldi is fundamental to our success and deserve nothing less."

It comes competitors including Lidl, Sainsbury's, and Waitrose also announced payrises for shop-floor staff this year.

Aldi employs over 45,000 colleagues across the UK and continues to expand rapidly, with plans to launch 40 new stores in 2026 as part of a £370 million investment programme.

It's also "upgrading and extending existing stores, reinforcing its position as one of Britain's fastest-growing food retailers", Aldi said.

The move forms part of Aldi's £1.6billion two-year investment strategy announced last year, as the chain looks to achieve its long-term ambition of having 1,500 UK stores.