Supermarket chain Aldi UK has announced a pay increase for its store colleagues, marking the second raise in 2024 and re-inforcing its status as one of the highest-paying supermarkets in the UK.  

The latest pay rise will see store assistants and deputy store managers' hourly rates increase from £12.00 to £12.40 outside the London orbital M25 motorway, and from £13.55 to £13.65 for those working within the M25. 

The new national minimum rate for store assistants and deputy store managers is now at a record-setting level for entry pay in the British supermarket sector. 

Aldi continues to be the only supermarket that offers paid breaks, which equates to more than £900 annually for the average store colleague.  

The latest announcement has taken Aldi's investment in pay to £79m. 

In February 2024, Aldi became the first UK supermarket to implement a minimum hourly wage of £12.00 nationally and £13.55 within the M25 for all store and warehouse staff.  

In the same month, the retailer also revealed plans to create 5,500 new jobs in the UK in 2024. 

Aldi UK and Ireland CEO Giles Hurley said: "We firmly believe that our colleagues are the best in the business, so it is only right that they remain the best-paid and we are committed to never being beaten on pay by any other supermarket. 

"Our store operations colleagues play an integral part in our ever-increasing popularity among shoppers and our continued investment in their pay is another way to thank them for the role they play in making Aldi what it is today." 

Aldi operates more than 1,000 stores and 11 regional distribution centres and employs 45,000 colleagues across Britain.