Highest paying supermarket revealed as Tesco gives hourly rise to thousands of staff

LocalBusiness & Finance
19 Mar 2026 • 5:57 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Tesco is implementing a significant pay rise for hundreds of thousands of its employees, effective from 29 March.
  • Shop workers and staff at online fulfilment centres will see their hourly wage increase by 5.1 per cent to £13.28 nationally, and £14.55 within the M25.
  • This adjustment is part of a £200 million investment and ensures Tesco's rates surpass the new national minimum wage of £12.71 for workers aged 21 and over.
  • Other major supermarket chains, including Sainsbury's, Lidl, and Aldi, have also recently announced similar pay increases for their staff.
  • Aldi is set to become the highest-paying supermarket among its peers when it hikes pay for store assistants to £13.50 an hour nationally and £14.88 in London from April.

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