Aldi awards store staff second pay rise this year

Discount supermarket group Aldi said on Monday it was awarding its store staff a second pay rise this year in another indication of Britain’s tight labour market.

Many UK employers are offering higher pay deals in the face of staff shortages and accelerating prices. The Bank of England is watching settlements closely as it weighs the risk that a jump in inflation to a 40-year high of 9.4 per cent becomes embedded in the economy.

Aldi UK, which trades from 970 stores across Britain, said that from September about 26,000 store assistants would receive a minimum of £10.50 an hour nationally and £11.95 in London – rises of 4 per cent and 3.5 per cent respectively.

Rates had gone up from £9.55 to £10.10 nationally and from £11.07 to £11.55 in London in February.

The German-owner retailer last week announced plans to create around 1,000 logistics roles across the country over the next 12 months.

The UK’s fifth-largest supermarket, which employs around 38,000 people, is looking to expand its distribution, transport and maintenance teams at its 11 regional distribution centres nationwide.

This includes both full-time and part-time positions, with salaries of up to £19.80 per hour.

The recruitment push forms part of Aldi’s nationwide expansion drive, with the supermarket expected to create 2,000 permanent roles across the UK this year.