Finance
Aldi's UK workers get second pay rise in two months
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 26, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 26, 2026
Tags:UK economy
Quick Summary
Aldi UK will lift store staff pay to at least £13.50 from April 1, weeks after a March rise to £13.35, overtaking Lidl’s £13.45. The move comes as unemployment climbs and the BoE tracks wage deals before the £12.71 minimum kicks in.
Aldi UK grants a second pay rise to store staff within two months
UK Retail Wage Increases and Economic Context
LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Discount grocer Aldi’s British arm has raised the pay for more than 28,000 hourly paid store staff for the second time in two months, overtaking rival Lidl GB’s latest increase and indicating ongoing competition for workers in the sector.
The move comes despite official data this month showing Britain’s jobless rate rose to its highest in over a decade outside the pandemic period, suggesting retailers are still under pressure to attract and retain staff even as the wider labour market softens.
Bank of England’s View on Wage Settlements
The Bank of England is monitoring wage settlements closely as it assesses whether inflation pressures will allow it to lower interest rates further.
ABOVE INFLATION PAY RISES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS
Aldi’s New Hourly Rates
Aldi UK said that from April 1 store assistants will earn at least 13.50 pounds ($18.27) an hour outside of London, with workers in London receiving higher rates.
How Aldi Compares with Lidl GB
Aldi UK had announced last month it would from March 1 pay 13.35 pounds an hour outside of London. However, Lidl GB said this month it would pay 10 pence an hour more outside of the capital.
Annual Pay Rises vs Inflation
Both Aldi UK and Lidl GB, along with retailers including John Lewis, Sainsbury's and Costa Coffee, have given pay rises on an annual basis above the rate of inflation, which was 3% in January.
Minimum Wage Adjustment in April
Britain's government-mandated main minimum wage will rise by 4.1% to 12.71 pounds an hour in April, despite complaints from some employers that this will push up prices.
Exchange Rate Note
($1 = 0.7391 pounds)
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by James Davey;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
Key Takeaways
- •Aldi UK lifts minimum hourly pay to £13.50 from April 1 after a March rise to £13.35.
- •The move overtakes Lidl GB’s £13.45 national rate effective March 1.
- •More than 28,000 hourly store staff benefit; London rates remain higher.
- •Competition for workers persists despite a softening labour market and rising jobless rate.
- •BoE is monitoring wage settlements as inflation hovers near 3% and the NLW rises to £12.71 in April.
Frequently Asked Questions about Aldi's UK workers get second pay rise in two months
1What is the main topic?
Aldi UK is raising store staff pay for the second time in two months, lifting its minimum hourly rate and intensifying pay competition among British grocers.
2How much will Aldi staff earn and when?
From April 1, store assistants will earn at least £13.50 an hour outside London. This follows a previously announced increase to £13.35 from March 1, with higher rates for London.
3How does this compare to rivals and the minimum wage?
It edges Lidl GB’s £13.45 national rate from March 1 and stays above the UK National Living Wage, which is set to rise to £12.71 in April.
