Aldi trumps Morrisons and Lidl on minimum pay
The pay rise announcement came after rival supermarkets Morrisons and Lidl last month revealed plans to increase their basic pay rates to £8.20 an hour.
The discount retailer said the pay increase would take effect in February before the introduction of the National Living Wage, set at £7.20 an hour, from April 2016.
‘Won’t be beaten’
Aldi UK and Ireland ceo Matthew Barnes said: “Just as Aldi won’t be beaten on the low prices of our products, we are also committed to offering the best pay and benefits in the industry.
Pay rises at a glance
- Aldi increase to £8.40 an hour
- Morrisons and Lidl increase to £8.20 an hour
- National Living Wage set at £7.20 an hour
“The success of Aldi in the UK and Ireland has been driven by the commitment, hard work and ambition of our employees and we will continue to maintain our leading position on pay.”
The company said the new rate represents a more than 3% increase on entry-level pay for store assistants, who were already paid at least £8.15 an hour.
The hike represents an almost 16% increase for stock assistants and caretakers, while the minimum pay rate will rise to £9.45 an hour in London.
Apprentice recruitment plans
Aldi has also announced plans to expand by recruiting more than 600 apprentices over the 18-month period from January 2016.
The discount supermarket made the announcements after opening its 600th store in Cardiff earlier this month.
Meanwhile, analyst Clive Black, from Shore Capital, has told Food Manufacture Group that the food retail industry was starting to recover from the “mother of all hangovers”.
Announcement from Aldi
“Just as Aldi won’t be beaten on the low prices of our products, we are also committed to offering the best pay and benefits in the industry.”
- Matthew Barnes, ceo, Aldi UK and Ireland
