Aldi has made its second announcement of a pay rise for store workers in a month, as it battles with rival Lidl to offer the sector’s highest rates.
From 1 March, Aldi store workers will earn a minimum £14.05 within the M25 and £12.75 across the rest of the country.
Aldi had already set new rates effective from March, with an announcement a month ago that they would be £14 within the M25 and £12.71 elsewhere.
But Lidl raised the stakes earlier this month, saying that from 1 March it would match Aldi’s offer within the M25, at £14, but pay 4p more elsewhere, at £12.75.
Now Aldi’s revised rates match Lidl’s outside London, but beat it by 5p within the M25.
To further complicate the picture for job seekers weighing up which to work for, Aldi also this morning announced a subsequent rise from September, to £14.16 within the M25 and £12.85 across the rest of the UK.
Read more: How much do supermarkets pay their staff?
Both discounters currently pay £13.65 within the M25 and £12.40 elsewhere.
The two are consistently the UK’s joint-highest-paying supermarkets based on entry-level hourly rates, thanks to their expansion programmes requiring a strong pipeline of new recruits.
Aldi’s latest move makes a further announcement from Lidl between now and 1 March seem likely.
The new rates of both retailers exceed the real living wage set by the Living Wage Foundation in October last year.
Aldi also offers paid breaks, which it says are worth about £1,370 a year for the average store worker.
“This latest increase recognises the important contribution that our colleagues make day in, day out and ensures they are rewarded fully for their contribution with industry-leading pay,” said Aldi UK and Ireland CEO Giles Hurley.
“Every member of Team Aldi plays an important role in providing the best products, service and value to the millions of shoppers that visit our stores.”
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