Aldi is set to become the best-paying supermarket in the UK after announcing a second pay rise this year. From April 1, store assistants will receive £13.50 an hour nationally and £14.88 inside the M25. These rates increase to £14.47 and £15.20 respectively based on length of service, benefiting over 28,000 workers.
Lidl increased staff pay from £13 to £13.45 an hour nationally and from £14.35 to £14.80 in London from March 2025, affecting 35,000 employees. Tesco raised its minimum pay to £13.35 an hour from March 2026, with London workers receiving approximately £14.71.
M&S will raise retail pay to £13.41 per hour nationally and £14.74 in London from April 1, impacting around 55,000 staff. Sainsbury's increased hourly pay to £13.23 nationally and £14.54 in London from March 2026.
Asda currently pays £12.60 an hour nationally and £13.82 in London, a boost that benefited around 115,000 employees. Morrisons pays £12.21 nationally and £13.06 in London, according to the Retail Gazette.
The wage increases come as the national minimum wage is set to rise from April 2026: for those aged 21 and over, from £12.21 to £12.71 an hour; for 18-20 year olds, from £10 to £10.85; and for under-18s and apprentices, from £7.55 to £8 an hour.
