The new £11.40 per hour starting rate, which is effective from 1 July 2023, is more than 13% higher than it was a year ago, representing an investment of more than £100m in pay in the past 12 months.

Aldi said that more than 28,000 workers will benefit from the increase and said the rise meant Aldi maintained its position as the UK’s best paying supermarket.

The new rates are higher than the Real Living Wage, set by the Living Wage Foundation, of £10.90 per hour nationally and £11.95 inside the M25.

Aldi is also the only supermarket to pay for breaks, which for the average worker is worth an additional £927 each year.

The announcement follows a series of pay increases, including raising hourly rates for 7,000 Aldi warehouse workers across the UK.

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Giles Hurley, chief executive officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “We believe our colleagues are the best in the sector and we are committed to ensuring they are also the best paid.

“We are incredibly proud of every single member of Team Aldi and are pleased to become the first UK supermarket to pay a minimum of £11.40 per hour to all store assistants.”

Aldi is set to create more than 6,000 new jobs this year, adding to the 4,500 permanent roles created last year.