ASDA is giving thousands of its workers a pay rise within weeks.
The supermarket is increasing hourly rates for retail staff by 10% from April.
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Around 115,000 Asda staff will see their pay go up from April 2 to £11.
Currently Asda pays staff £10.10 per hour.
A second pay rise will come in from July 2, giving £11.11 per hour.
Rates for stores inside the M25 will increase from £11.27 currently to £12.28 in July.
The company said it is investing a record £141 million this year to boost hourly pay rates for staff who work across its 633 stores.
This follows an 8% pay increase for hourly-paid retail workers in 2022, when rates went from £9.66 to £10.10.
In addition, all eligible hourly-paid store staff who have been with Asda for more than three months will receive a bonus payment for their work in 2022.
The amount will be confirmed at the end of February and we will update this story as soon as we know more.
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The new rates of pay are higher than the government’s National Living Wage and the voluntary Real Living Wage recommended by the Living Wage Foundation.
The National Living Wage – the legal minimum for over 23s – is set at £9.50 per hour.
The Real Living Wage – a voluntary minimum that some employers commit to paying – is £10.90 or £11.95 in London as of January 2023.
Mohsin Issa, Asda’s co-owner, said: “We know that rising living costs are affecting customers and colleagues alike and recognise we have a responsibility to support them during these challenging times. “
Meanwhile the retailer has revealed it will lock the price of 600 products – including branded and own label products.
Items will include fresh meat, dairy, fruit and veg.
But shoppers will only see these prices locked for from February 21 to May 31.
We’ve asked Asda for more information on the price lock, including which items, and will update when we here back.
Last year the shopping giant slashed the price of 100 food items and locked them until the end of last year.
Asda shoppers could spot the discounted items with a “dropped and locked” logo in store and online.
It has also launched of a partnership with Quaker Oats to offer children a free warm breakfast in any of its 205 cafes during the February half term holidays.
The news of the pay rise comes just weeks after Aldi said it would give 7,000 of its warehouse staff a 20% pay increase compared to January last year.
Lidl boosted wages for 23,500 workers from October 1.
Entry-level hourly rates increased from £10.10 to £10.90 outside of London.
Hourly rates in London rose from £11.30 to £11.95 within the M25.
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