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Aldi to Open About 40 UK Stores in 2026, Creating 1,100 Jobs

The expansion sits within a two-year £1.6bn programme targeting a long-term network of 1,500 stores.

Overview

  • Aldi has allocated more than £370 million to open around 40 UK stores in 2026, with full location details still to be confirmed.
  • More than 1,100 new roles are being recruited nationwide across part-time and full-time positions, with vacancies already posted in Merseyside, Coventry, Cumbria, Yorkshire and Wiltshire.
  • Store assistant pay increases from April 1 to £13.50 an hour nationally and £14.88 inside the M25, rising further with length of service under a £42 million 2026 pay investment.
  • The company says it remains the highest-paying major grocer and the only one offering paid breaks for all colleagues, a benefit worth roughly £1,500 a year.
  • Beyond new openings, Aldi plans about £300 million of upgrades and extensions to existing sites as part of its broader investment drive toward 1,500 UK stores.