Retailer Aldi is not only remaining highly competitive on pricing but is also delivering more when it comes to pay for its colleagues.
The discount chain says it is boosting pay again for 28,000 employees in the UK starting in February to keep them on top of the chain among supermarkets here.
“The commitment and enthusiasm of our colleagues has driven our success over many years, particularly during the last 18 months,” Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer, Aldi UK and Ireland said. “We want to ensure our colleagues are always fully rewarded for their amazing work. These new rates, together with the fact that we are the only supermarket to pay colleagues for breaks taken during their shifts, means we continue to offer the best pay in the supermarket sector.”
That means store assistant will see pay rise to at least £10.10 an hour, while those working inside the M25 will receive £11.55. That beats that Living Wage Foundation’s national recommendation of £9.90 an hour and £11.05 inside the M25. Aldi also offers paid breaks, the only retailer in the UK to do so.
The move is part of Aldi’s mission to become the dominant supermarket in Britain. It is closing in fast on having 1,000 stores here and pledges to continue growth with a £1.3 billion over the next two years. That will mean a huge increase in colleague support, and it plans to hire an additional 2,000 workers to build out that strategy and meet customer demand.
“We’re continuing to gain even more customers – with over 60% of UK households shopping with Aldi in the last year,” Richard Thornton, Communications Director at Aldi UK, says. “Our focus is on expanding our store estate, making sure Aldi is accessible to as many of these new shoppers across the country as possible. Looking ahead, we are excited to provide millions of new customers with access to Aldi’s award-winning quality and unbeatable value as we create even more places and more ways to shop with us.”
Annual sales at Aldi jumped 10.2% to a record £13.5 billion. Kantar data shows that Aldi is growing its customer base quicker than any retailer in the UK at just over 8%. Profits were down just slightly as COVID impacted almost all businesses.
“Whilst 2020 was an extremely challenging year, our 41,000 colleagues stepped up when it mattered most – their dedication to the communities they serve has been nothing short of remarkable,” Hurley says. “Despite some of the most difficult conditions our sector has ever seen, our people underlined the strength, success and spirit of our business.”
