Aldi has revealed it will boost wages for its shop floor workers from the start of March.
The pay rise is coming several weeks before the Government's national minimum wage increase takes effect in April.
Store assistants at the discount supermarket chain will see their hourly rate climb by 33p, taking starting pay from £13.02 to £13.35.
The timing means thousands of Aldi employees will benefit from a combined increase of 64p per hour once the national minimum wage rises by 50p to £12.71 for workers aged 21 and above.
Giles Hurley, chief executive of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: "Our colleagues are at the heart of everything we do.
"Their hard work and dedication is what allows us to offer customers the quality, value and service they expect from Aldi.
"That's why we're making such a significant investment in our promise to never be beaten on pay for our colleagues."
The UK's fourth largest grocery retailer, which recorded Christmas sales of £1.65billion, is committing £36 million to staff remuneration and benefits as part of this latest package.
Aldi announces ANOTHER pay rise for more than 45,000 staff
| ALDIThe investment package includes an enhancement to maternity leave provisions, with new mothers now receiving full pay for 26 weeks.
Apprentices working in stores will also see their hourly wage increase to £12.02.
Staff employed at locations within the M25 will receive a higher uplift of 36p, pushing their hourly rate from £14.35 to £14.71.
Apprentices working in stores will also see their hourly wage increase to £12.02
| GETTYDepending on how long they have worked for the company, store assistants can earn up to £14.30 per hour across the country, while those based in and around the capital could take home as much as £15.03.
The German-owned retailer operates a workforce of more than 45,000 people across approximately 1,060 stores throughout the UK.
Aldi remains the sole supermarket in Britain to provide paid breaks for all its shop floor employees, a perk the company values at up to £1,470 annually.
The supermarket chain is also pressing ahead with ambitious expansion plans, with 80 new store openings scheduled over the coming two years
| ALDILast year, the budget grocer awarded staff a comparable hourly pay increase of 31p.
The supermarket chain is also pressing ahead with ambitious expansion plans, with 80 new store openings scheduled over the coming two years.
The discounter will also debut three distribution centers, enter new states and launch a redesigned store website as it works toward its 2028 growth targets.
Aldi’s announcement lays out goals for 2026 as well as benchmarks for the next few years as the discounter buckles down on its nationwide expansion.
More From GB News