Aldi UK has announced that all of its more than 1,000 stores will be closed on Boxing Day, giving shoppers 50 days' notice to plan alternative shopping arrangements. The discount supermarket will also close on Christmas Day, reopening on Wednesday 27 December for customers to stock up on New Year essentials.
Richard Thornton, Communications Director at Aldi UK, stated: 'We recognise that Christmas is an important time for many of our colleagues, and keeping our stores closed on Boxing Day gives them more time to spend with their families.' He added that customers can look forward to new Christmas ranges arriving in the coming weeks.
To manage the festive rush, Aldi is recruiting 3,000 store roles, including Store Assistants, managers, and cleaners. Starting pay for Store Assistants is £11.40 per hour nationally and £12.85 per hour inside the M25, with Aldi remaining the only UK supermarket to offer paid breaks.
Opening hours will vary in the lead-up to Christmas, with extended times to allow shoppers to prepare for the big day. Standard hours are 8am–10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am–4pm on Sundays, except on key dates.
The announcement follows the release of Aldi's 2023 Christmas advert featuring Kevin the Carrot, who returned for his eighth year. Narrated by Jim Broadbent, the advert sees Kevin touring William Conker's Christmas factory alongside Grandpa Grate and other characters.
