Lidl has become the latest UK grocer to increase the wages of its store and warehouse employees.
Following on from Marks and Spencer’s announcement yesterday of its plans to invest £15 million into a support package for its front-line colleagues during the cost-of-living crisis, the discount grocer has now become the UK’s highest paying supermarket.
From next week (1 October), Lidl will increase entry-level rates from £10.10 to £10.90 per hour outside of London and £11.30 to £11.95 per hour within the M25, with colleagues earning up to £12.00 and £13.00 respectively.
This will directly benefit over 23,500 Lidl employees across the country, with a full time colleague earning around £2,000 more a year.
The move represents a £39.5 million investment by the discount grocer, and a combined total of £50 million into hourly pay rates this year.
The pay raise represents a rise of between 10-14.5% since this time last year.
This results in 40% of hourly paid colleagues will be earning £12.00 an hour as a result of their length of service.
Lidl’s Nightshift Premium will also increase from £2.00 per hour to £3.00 per hour along with the Freezer Premium, which will increase from £1.00 per hour to £1.50 per hour.
This is the second increase to pay rates that Lidl has introduced this year to help its employees deal with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
“We have introduced these rate increases to reflect the key role and tireless efforts of our incredible colleagues working in our 935 stores and 13 warehouses,” Lidl GB CEO Ryan McDonnell said.
“The role that we as a discounter play in giving households access to good, affordable food cannot be underestimated, now more than ever. But the ongoing commitment and dedication of our colleagues in making it all possible for our customers cannot be underestimated either – our business simply would not run without them.”
