LIDL UK WORKFORCE TO BECOME BEST PAID EMPLOYEES IN UK SUPERMARKET SECTOR

• Entry level wage will increase from £8.45 to £8.75 per hour outside of London and £9.75 to £10.20 within M25
• Pay rises to come into effect from 1st March 2018, directly benefitting over 16,000 Lidl employees
• Wage increase represents an additional annual investment of over £3.5m by Lidl UK into its employees
• Announcement comes as the Living Wage Foundation issues new rates based on the real costs of living
• In 2015 Lidl UK became the first British supermarket to pay the real Living Wage

London, 06.11.17: Lidl UK has announced that it will be increasing the wages of more than 16,000 of its employees in the new year, making them the highest paid supermarket employees in the UK.

As part of the supermarket’s ongoing commitment to its employees, Lidl will be increasing entry-level wages from £8.45 to £8.75 per hour outside of London and £9.75 to £10.20 within the M25.

The move, which will come into effect from 1st March 2018, represents an additional annual investment of over £3.5m, and follows an investment of £9m in 2015 when Lidl became the first supermarket to pay the real living wage.

Nan Gibson, Lidl UK HR Board Director said: “Without our incredibly dedicated workforce we would not be able to positively impact the lives of our customer in the way that we do. I’m incredibly proud, therefore, to once again show our dedication to our team by increasing wages and ensuring that, at the very least, salaries support the cost of living.”

Christian Härtnagel, Lidl UK CEO said: “As the fastest growing supermarket our business is continuing to go from strength to strength, and it’s only right that we show our commitment to our colleagues in the same way that they commit to the business and our customers each and every day.”

This news is the latest example of the commitment that Lidl UK is making to its employees, going above and beyond the ‘National Living Wage’ (formerly the National Minimum Wage) as set by the Government, and comes as the Living Wage Foundation issues its new rates based on the cost of living, which Lidl UK has pledged to match.

The supermarket’s continued growth follows a huge increase in customer numbers, with two thirds of UK households shopping at Lidl in the last year and many now choosing it as the destination for their main shop, recognising the winning quality and value combination that is on offer.

In 2016 Lidl added 2,500 employees to its workforce and continues to employ more people across the UK with every new store it opens. Earlier in the year the supermarket announced an accelerated expansion investment of 1.45bn across two years (2017-2018), which will see a new Lidl store open every week.

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