Lidl GB is further strengthening its position as a leading employer in the UK retail sector by announcing a significant new pay initiative, consolidating a long-term strategy based on continuous investment in people as a driver of growth and competitiveness. The group has announced a total investment of £29 million in pay increases, effective March 1st. This increase will apply to the entire UK workforce, including both hourly and white-collar workers.
The move affects approximately 35.000 employees in total and confirms Lidl's position as the UK supermarket with the highest wages in the sector. Specifically, starting in March, the starting hourly wage will rise to £13,45 nationwide, with a progression mechanism based on seniority that will allow for a maximum of £14,45.
For workers employed in the London area, where the cost of living remains structurally higher than the national average, hourly wages will increase from 14,35 to 14,80 pounds, with a further increase to 15,30 pounds for more experienced employees. Thanks to these adjustments, Lidl becomes the only British retailer to simultaneously guarantee its employees the Real Living Wage nationally and the London Living Wage in the capital, reinforcing a policy the company has been pursuing for years. This is the seventh salary increase announced by the discount retailer since 2023, a figure that highlights the continuity of the approach adopted and the desire to maintain pay leverage as a structural element of its HR strategy.
The people investment policy comes amid a period of strong business expansion, with Lidl confirming its position as the fastest-growing brick-and-mortar supermarket in the UK for over two consecutive years. The brand's development plan calls for the opening of hundreds of new stores nationwide and the resulting creation of thousands of new jobs, placing workforce attractiveness and retention at the forefront. Alongside salary increases, the company has also announced a significant strengthening of its welfare policies, with a particular focus on supporting parenthood and the various stages of employee life. Paid paternity leave will double from two to four weeks of full pay, while after five years of service, colleagues will be eligible for a total of eight weeks of fully paid leave.
This level places Lidl among the most advanced employers in British retail in terms of family protections and work-life balance. This measure complements already distinctive policies, such as the 28 weeks of fully paid maternity and adoption leave, which have contributed to strengthening the company's reputation as an employer of choice over the years.
In addition, paid leave for fertility programs and specific protections for employees affected by pregnancy loss are provided, as part of an increasingly broader focus on people's well-being. Management believes that investing in human capital is essential to sustaining operational growth and ensuring the continuity of expansion plans.
"Our colleagues are the backbone of our business, and their success is our success," said Stephanie Rogers, Chief People Officer at Lidl GB, emphasizing how the company's growth is closely linked to the daily commitment of its people. Since 2015, Lidl has been the first supermarket in the UK to adopt the Living Wage, maintaining a pioneering position in pay policies over the years.
More recently, the brand has also strengthened its profile in the field of diversity and inclusion, being awarded DE&I Retailer of the Year at the 2025 Retail Industry Awards. The company also once again achieved the “Top Employer” certification, confirming a model that combines commercial growth, social responsibility, and long-term competitiveness.
