Overview

• Aldi is recruiting 4,500 permanent store colleagues ahead of the festive peak as part of its wider growth plans.
• Staff at roughly 65 stores inside the M25 will receive £14 an hour ahead of Christmas, in what is reported as a UK‑first for supermarkets.
• Starting pay for store assistants remains £13.02 nationally and £14.35 inside the M25, with paid breaks worth about £1,425 a year for the average colleague.
• Regional campaigns include 210 roles in Essex and 370 in Greater Manchester across assistants, management and cleaning positions.
• The hiring push supports plans to open about one new store a week before year‑end toward a long‑term goal of 1,500 UK sites, with stores set to close on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.