Thousands of Aldi employees are set to gain a pay rise in early 2024, as all store and warehouse workers are guaranteed to be earning at least £12 per hour, the company has announced.

It will be the first supermarket to carry out the highly paid minimum wages for all its staff.

Aldi said it is investing £67 million in pay, adding it is also the only supermarket to offer paid breaks, which for the average store worker is worth more than £900 a year.

The minimum rate will increase by 40p an hour, and by 70p to £13.55 within the M25, with the increases taking effect from February next year.

This makes Aldi the first supermarket to offer rates in line with the Real Living Wage that was set by the Living Wage Foundation in October 2023.

Store Assistants’ pay will rise further to £12.95 nationally, and £13.85 within the M25, based on the length of service as part of the investment into colleague pay.

Giles Hurley, chief executive of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “Just as we promise to provide the best value to our customers, we are also committed to being the highest-paying supermarket in the sector.