'We're rewarding dedication with the highest pay in the sector' - Aldi confirms staff at West Midlands stores set for pay rise
Staff at Aldi stores in the West Midlands are set for a pay boost from April, the discount supermarket has announced.
From April 1 2026, store assistants in the region will earn £13.50 per hour, rising to £14.47 per hour based on length of service.
The new rates exceed those of all other competitors, cementing Aldi's position as the UK’s highest-paying supermarket.
More than 28,000 hourly-paid store staff are set to benefit from the move which represents the second pay rise for Aldi teams this year, following January's announcement of enhanced rates and extended maternity pay to 26 weeks at full pay.
Combined, they represent a £42 million investment in colleague pay in 2026 alone.
Aldi is also the only major supermarket business that gives paid breaks to all staff – a benefit worth around £1,500 per year to the average store worker.
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 colleagues across the UK, plans to open 40 new stores in 2026 as part of a £370 million investment programme.
The supermarket is also investing an extra £300 million in upgrading and extending existing stores.
The national minimum wage for over-21s will rise by 50p to £12.71, from April.
Earlier in February competitor Lidl announced an increase in entry level pay to £13.45 nationally, and £14.80 in London.
It said both salaried and hourly-paid colleagues nationwide were to benefit from a £29 million investment in pay which comes into effect from March 1.
Lidl also pledged to double its paternity leave, offering one of the most competitive packages in the industry.
Sainsbury's also announced last month that hourly pay will rise by five per cent from March, taking the base rate to £13.23 an hour nationally and £14.54 an hour in London.
