Aldi Becomes First UK Supermarket to Introduce ‘£13.50 Rule’

Aldi has announced rthe change nationally from April, making it the first major UK supermarket to introduce the new rate

Aldi has become the first supermarket to implement a ‘£13.50’ minimum wage across its UK stores. The retailer this morning confirmed that entry-level wages will increase to £13.50 nationally and £14.88 inside the M25 from 1st April this year.

The discount chain also highlighted that it remains the only major supermarket providing all staff with paid breaks – worth approximately £1,500 per year. From 1st April 2026, Store Assistants will receive £13.50 per hour nationally and £14.88 inside the M25.

These rates increase to £14.47 and £15.20 respectively depending on length of service.

The wage boost will benefit more than 28,000 hourly-paid store staff and marks the second pay increase for Aldi employees this year, following January’s announcement of improved rates and extended maternity pay to 26 weeks at full pay.

Together, these changes represent a £42 million investment in staff wages during 2026 alone.

Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “Our colleagues work incredibly hard to deliver exceptional value for our customers, and we’re rewarding that dedication with the highest pay in the sector.

“We’ve invested over £42 million in colleague pay this year because we know that every single member of Team Aldi is fundamental to our success and deserve nothing less.”

Aldi, which employs more than 45,000 people across the UK, is pressing ahead with ambitious expansion plans, committing £370 million to open 40 new stores in 2026. On top of this, the discount supermarket is ploughing a further £300 million into upgrading and extending its existing estate, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s fastest-growing food retailers.

The German-owned chain, currently ranked as Britain’s fourth largest grocer, says it is looking to plug the “gaps” in areas where shoppers currently have no access to an Aldi store.

The 2026 openings form part of a wider £1.6 billion two-year expansion programme, announced back in September, which will see 80 new outlets launch over the period. Aldi currently operates around 1,060 stores across the UK and has set its sights on reaching 1,500 locations in the longer term.

Among the locations earmarked for new stores this year are Southam in Warwickshire, Hastings in East Sussex, and Amersham in Buckinghamshire. This follows a string of openings last year, which included Eastbourne in East Sussex, Fulham Broadway in London, and Deeside in Wales.

Giles Hurley, chief executive of Aldi UK and Ireland, acknowledged that “there are still areas without an Aldi store, so our expansion plans for 2026 are designed to address some of these gaps”. “We’ve always believed that access to high-quality affordable food is a right, not a privilege, and that’s why it’s our mission to make this a reality for customers up and down the UK,” he said.