Aldi set to be first UK supermarket to pay assistants at least £13 an hour
That will be the chain's basic pay rate from September 1.
And staff within the M25 will earn at least £14.33, far exceeding the Real Living Wage of £12.60 and National Living Wage of £12.21.
Long-serving staff will see their pay rise to £13.93 nationally and £14.64 in London.
Already the UK's highest-paying supermarket Aldi, which uses the slogan 'Better Everyday', last increased its minimum hourly pay to £12.75 nationally and £14.05 in London earlier this year.
Aldi also remains the only supermarket offering paid breaks, worth an extra £1,385 per year for the average employee.
Boss Giles Hurley said: 'Our people are the driving force behind our success.
"This latest investment in pay is a reflection of their hard work and the incredible contribution they make.
'We're proud to remain the UK's highest-paying supermarket and will continue to support our colleagues.'
The chain is investing £650million to expand from 1,050 to 1,500 stores nationwide.
It is opening ten new outlets this summer including in Caterham, Sheffield, and Fulham Broadway, and employs 45,000 staff.
Rival Lidl hiked hourly pay for 28,000 workers on April 1.
All upcoming 'Aldi Finds' in the middle aisle next week – including portable chargers, power toothbrushes & dryer balls
Entry level wages rose to £12.75 an hour nationally, with London rates increasing to £14 an hour, as part of a £15million investment into pay.
4
HEINEKEN REFRESHES LESS
4
HEINEKEN has faced a tough start to 2025, selling less beer amid fraught pricing talks with European retailers.
Its beer volumes fell 1.2 per cent globally in the first half, with European sales dropping 4.7 per cent as retailers in France, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain pulled the brand over price hikes.
US sales also slumped due to weak consumer sentiment, while proposed tariffs threaten profits.
Despite this, the brewer saw modest UK growth boosted by its Cruzcampo lager and Murphy's stout.
MOVIE MAGIC
EVERYMAN CINEMAS saw a 21 per cent sales surge in the first half of the year.
Admissions climbed by 15 per cent in that time, with blockbusters like Thunderbolts and the new Mission Impossible helping to attract 2.2million visitors.
And average ticket prices rose by six per cent, up to £12.46.
Everyman has 48 venues in the UK, and plans to open more soon. Its shares rose 6.6 per cent in early trading yesterday.
RENT SQUEEZE
4
THE rental market is at record highs, with tenants paying £400 more per month than they did five years ago, Rightmove says.
Average asking rents outside London sit at £1,365 per month, while those in the capital have soared to £2,712.
The news comes despite rent growth slowing, with demand down 10 per cent and supply up 15 per cent.
But tenants still spend 37 per cent of their income on housing.
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