Sainsbury's has introduced a new £13.23 hourly pay rule across all its UK stores, a move that began in March. The supermarket giant, which operates more than 1,450 locations nationwide, announced the increase at the start of the year, raising minimum hourly pay for shop floor workers to £13.23 nationally and £14.54 in London.
Pay rise details
The retailer described the increase as a 5% uplift for hourly paid colleagues, adding that it would mean a pay rise of over £1,200 a year for full-time hourly-paid staff, on top of a strong benefits package. Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts said in January: “Our colleagues are at the heart of our business. Their hard work, dedication and commitment have driven our strong momentum and helped us win grocery market share growth for the sixth consecutive Christmas period. I'm delighted to share that we will be raising pay for our hourly-paid colleagues by five per cent this year. This increase reflects our commitment to rewarding our colleagues for their exceptional service and productivity.”
Other retailers follow suit
Sainsbury's was not alone in enhancing pay rates. Aldi increased its hourly pay for store assistants to £13.50 nationally from April 1, with those inside the M25 receiving £14.88. Aldi also introduced rates of £14.47 and £15.20 based on length of service. The change benefited 28,000 hourly-paid store workers, marking the second pay rise for Aldi teams in 2026 after January's announcement of enhanced rates and extended maternity pay to 26 weeks at full pay.
Other major retailers that upped pay included Lidl, Primark, M&S, and Tesco. The pay hikes coincided with the rise of the National Living Wage to £12.71 for those aged 21 and over, while 18-20 year olds saw their National Minimum Wage increase to £10.85. Apprentices and under-18s began receiving a minimum of £8 per hour.
