Two of the UK's six largest supermarkets, Asda and Morrisons, are set to introduce new pay rates for their staff in July 2026. The changes follow negotiations with the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) and the implementation of the new National Living Wage in April.
Morrisons Pay Increase Details
Morrisons secured a 91.87% vote in favor of the pay proposal, which will increase shop assistant pay from the current £12.71 per hour to £13 in July and further to £13.11 by October. The first rise will see pay move to £12.81, followed by an increase to £13 on July 20. A final increase to £13.11 will be implemented from October 26.
Jodie Keating, group people director at Morrisons, said: "We're pleased that we can now implement the pay proposal and increase pay for our colleagues to reward them for the contribution they make to our business. I would like to thank all our colleagues for everything they continue to do for Morrisons."
Asda Pay Increase Details
Asda announced their adoption of the £13 rule in March, with 110,000 hourly-paid retail staff receiving a 4% pay rise. Their basic £12.60 hourly rate increased to £12.71 on April 1 and will jump above £13 on July 5 when staff will be paid £13.10. Stores inside the M25 have seen their pay boosted from £13.82 to £13.93 in April and will be paid £14.35 from July.
James Goodman, Chief People Officer at Asda, said: "Our store-based colleagues are at the core of our business and the role they play serving customers is central to our Formula for Growth turnaround plan. I'm pleased we've been able to give them an above-inflation pay award and invest in this way. I'd also like to thank them for their continued hard work and commitment to making Asda better every day."
Impact on Staff and Industry
These pay rises reflect the ongoing efforts by major supermarkets to attract and retain staff in a competitive labor market. The increases come after the introduction of the new National Living Wage in April, which raised the minimum wage for workers aged 21 and over to £12.21 per hour. Both Asda and Morrisons have emphasized the importance of their store colleagues and the need to reward them fairly for their contributions.
