Aldi is giving store colleagues in Edinburgh a pay increase for the second time this year, maintaining its position as the UK’s best-paying supermarket.
From September, all hourly paid colleagues at its Edinburgh stores will receive an increase of 40p an hour on their current hourly rate, taking Aldi’s minimum pay rates for Store Assistants to a sector-leading £10.50 an hour nationally and £11.95 for those inside the M25.
Aldi also remains the only supermarket to offer paid breaks, which for the average store colleague is now worth more than £830 a year.
The new rates far exceed the Living Wage Foundation’s recommended real living wage of £9.90 an hour nationally and £11.05 inside the M25.
Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “Our new rates of pay maintain Aldi’s position as the UK’s highest paying supermarket.
“This announcement recognises the amazing contribution our colleagues make in serving the local communities in Edinburgh. Their outstanding efforts have ensured that our customers continue to have access to fresh affordable food, every single day.”
Aldi is the UK’s fifth-largest supermarket and has more than 970 stores across Britain.
27th in-store festival brings together twelve of Scotland’s best breweries
Aldi Scotland has unveiled the line-up for its 27th Scottish Beer Festival, giving customers the perfect excuse to enjoy the warmer weather with some ice-cold brews.
The festival is set to showcase 25 craft beers from five regions in Scotland, including the central belt, Aberdeen, Glasgow, the Highlands, and Edinburgh and the Lothians, giving customers the opportunity to sample locally produced, top-quality brews at everyday prices.
Kicking off in-store from Thursday 28th July, the festival will take place across all of Aldi’s 103 Scottish stores in a deal worth over £86,000 to the breweries involved.
Aldi customers across Scotland can enjoy everything from Indian lager and a citrus pale ale from Aberdeen-based Fierce Beer to Loch Ness Brewing’s rich, chocolate stout. Refreshing IPAs from Glasgow Beer Works and a tarte mango sour from Edinburgh’s Cold Town will also feature as part of the summer beer festival.
Aldi is the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket 2021 according to Which? And offers outstanding deals on locally sourced, Scottish beer products, without scrimping on the quality.
Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said:“Our Scottish Beer Festivals are always a big event in the Aldi Scotland calendar. I’m proud that the relationships we have built with Scottish brewers over the years mean that we can showcase some truly excellent beers to a wider audience, while maintaining everyday amazing Aldi prices.
“The summer event will have beers from five different corners of Scotland, showcasing the breadth of talented producers we have on our doorstep.
“I am also very pleased that a number of these beers are exclusive to Aldi Scotland. With something for everyone to enjoy, I am sure our customers will enjoy the chance to try the variety of unique brews in this summer’s line-up.”
Celebrating the 10th year of Scottish Beer Festivals, products will be available in store from 28th July. Visit aldi.co.uk/scottishbeerfestival to find out more. You can find your nearest Aldi here.
Full list of breweries and product featured in Aldi’s Scottish Beer Festival:
Brewdog
Punk AF £1.49 (330ml, 0.5% ABV)
Dead Pony Club £1.49 (330ml, 3.8% ABV)
Hazy Jane £1.49 (330ml, 5.0% ABV)
Cairngorm Brewing Company
Black Gold £1.79 (500ml, 4.4% ABV)
Cairngorm Gold £1.59 (500ml, 4.5% ABV)
Cold Town Brew
New England IPA £1.79 (440ml, 5.5% ABV)
Peachy Summer Ale £1.79 (440ml, 4.1% ABV)
Mango Sour £1.79 (440ml, 4.3% ABV)
Fierce Beer
Indian Lager £1.79 (440ml, 5.0% ABV)
Citrus Pale Ale £1.79 (440ml, 5.0% ABV)
Glasgow Beer Works
Session IPA £1.79 (440ml, 3.2% ABV)
West Coast IPA £1.79 (440ml, 4.5% ABV)
Harviestoun
Heaven Cent £1.49 (330ml, 4.6% ABV)
Ptarmigan £1.79 (500ml, 4.5% ABV)
The Ridge Pale Ale £1.79 (500ml, 5.0% ABV)
Innis & Gunn
Lager £1.95 (660ml, 4.6% ABV)
Loch Lomond Brewery
Cuban Heels Pale Ale £1.79 (440ml, 4.5% ABV)
Slave to the Rhythm £1.79 (500ml, 4.0%)
Loch Ness Brewing
Darkness Stout £1.79 (500ml, 4.4% ABV)
Lightness Pale Ale £1.59 (500ml, 3.8% ABV)
Stewart Brewing
Island Getaway Kettle Sour £1.79 (440ml, 3.5% ABV)
Dobbies Garden Centres, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer, has marked its partnership with Waitrose by opening its first foodhall in Edinburgh.
Featuring the supermarket’s wide range of high-quality food, grocery products, and everyday essentials, the Waitrose foodhall is one of more than 50 that are to be launched at Dobbies’ stores across the UK and which will bring Waitrose to 20 new towns and cities.
Shoppers at Dobbies’ Edinburgh can choose from an extensive selection of products including the essential Waitrose range, which is the biggest value tier of any supermarket, plus its premium range – Waitrose No. 1 – and Waitrose Duchy Organic. Ready meals, free-from and vegan ranges, prepared fruit and vegetables, snacks and cupboard staples will also be available.
Graeme Jenkins, CEO of Dobbies, said:“Through a shared commitment to great value, quality and sustainability, Waitrose was the natural grocery partner for us as we continue to build on the success of our foodhalls in recent years. I am sure our first Waitrose foodhall at our flagship store in Edinburgh will prove popular with our customers.
“Our foodhalls are integral to our garden centre ranges and the experience of our customers, and we look forward to introducing Waitrose’s offering across our network of UK stores.”
To find out more about the partnership, visit www.dobbies.com.
A new report from Open Cages has found that in order to meet demand for the UK’s favourite meat, 61 million chickens died before slaughter last year as a result of major welfare issues.
The authors blame supermarkets like Morrisons for continuing to source meat from genetically engineered “Frankenchickens” whilst M&S, Waitrose, KFC and retailers all over Europe move rapidly towards the Better Chicken Commitment.
Today – animal welfare charity Open Cages has published a scathing report:
Chicken is Britain’s most popular meat, with consumption far outstripping beef, lamb or pork. Nearly 1.2 billion chickens were killed last year to meet demand, with most meat coming from ultra fast-growing Frankenchickens raised in conditions so crowded that in their last weeks an individual bird would have more room in the oven.
Citing figures from DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), the authors claim 61 million chickens died before reaching the slaughterhouse last year as a result of these practices. Around 1.2 million chickens are dying every week.
The intensive conditions routinely cause debilitating welfare issues. The authors estimate that last year nearly 5 million chickens may have suffered heart attacks, 15 million may have had their necks broken by farmers due to severe lameness and over 24 million may have died from infection.
The authors argue that shoppers are manipulated by supermarkets dishing out “deceptive” labels and marketing campaigns which give the false impression that chickens are well cared for. Another recent report accused supermarkets of bombarding consumers with deals and offers on “unsustainable” meat from intensive farms.
Supermarkets like Tesco, Morrisons and Co-op are blamed for “refusing” to sign the RSPCA & Defra-backedBetter Chicken Commitment (BCC) – a policy of improved welfare standards that prohibits the use of ultra fast-growing Frankenchickens and overcrowded conditions. Currently, the vast majority of supermarket chicken comes from the fastest growing breeds available which suffer the highest rates of premature death.
300 companies across the UK and Europe have signed the BCC, including KFC, Nestle and Subway. It is estimated that 27% of the UK’s chickens are covered by the commitment, along with large supermarkets in France, Germany, Denmark, Spain and Poland.M&S and Waitrose are so far the only UK supermarkets to pledge.
Open Cages CEO & Co-Founder Connor Jackson comments:“The scale of suffering behind cheap chicken may be shocking to consumers, but to our major supermarkets it’s business as usual.
“They know full well that 1 in 3 Frankenchickens can barely walk, that millions die of heart attack, and that millions more die of horrendous diseases. And still, not only do even the self proclaimed “high welfare” and “ethical” retailers like Morrisons and Co-op continue to sell Frankenchickens, to package their meat as “welfare assured”, and to tell us Brits that they care deeply about animal welfare … they do all this knowing that alternatives are available.
“Hundreds of companies like M&S, Waitrose and even KFC have signed the Better Chicken Commitment, taking the lead in improving animal welfare. Instead of following, supermarkets like Morrisons ignore and bury the issue behind feel good marketing campaigns and PR spin. But these findings prove once and for all that it is all just a story to keep us coming back to the checkout: animals pay the ultimate price for cheap chicken.”
Chris Packham’s petition calling on UK supermarkets to sign the BCC has gained nearly a quarter of a million signatures. A recent YouGov poll found that a majority of Brits strongly oppose these types of farming practices even when taking cost savings to themselves into account.
The BBC’s Chris Packham comments: “I think consumers would be utterly disgusted to know that a million of these intelligent, sensitive birds are dying every week to get cheap chicken onto their plates.
“The misery these animals face on a daily basis is unnecessary and would outrage even the most ardent meat eaters, because it serves no purpose but to satisfy the profits of our major supermarkets who refuse to help them.
“Fortunately there are many things shoppers can do to help.
“As well as eating less meat to reduce demand, we can dramatically improve their lives in a matter of years simply by showing these large supermarkets that we want them to sign the Better Chicken Commitment.
“There must be a shift towards a middle ground of better, but affordable choices that will help us all take part in improving animal welfare without breaking the bank. It’s not fair for that opportunity to be reserved for only the well off.”
It’s officially BBQ season and come rain or shine, Scots across the country will be firing up the grill for the ultimate summer feast.
To celebrate the return of BBQ Week (4-10 July) Aldi Scotland have unveiled a huge selection on locally produced BBQ products which shoppers are sure to flip out for.
If you are ‘rare-ly’ wanting to impress your guests the multi-award winning Specially Selected Ribeye Steak is a must for all BBQs, adding a top-quality feel at everyday affordable prices.
Grill-maestros cannot go wrong with the new Nature’s Glen Italian Style Burger, which is a perfect mix of rich tasty Scotch Beef and delicate Scottish Pork all beautifully seasoned and ready for cooking.
If the Scottish summer fails to make an appearance, the chilli flavoured Scotch Beef Kebabs are enough to bring some heat to any outdoor occasion and are the perfect addition to the BBQ.
However, if you are wanting to move away from the traditional BBQ meats, Aldi can help you ‘scale’ new heights, with their beautifully flavoured range of Scottish Salmon Fillets, from warming harissa infused fillets, to the salty and sweet Miso and Sweet Chilli Salmon, the only problem will be guests deciding what to enjoy first.
The leading value supermarket, which is currently named the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket 2021 by Which?, guarantees exceptional quality, provenance and taste at unbelievably low prices, making it the clear choice for stocking up on the BBQ essentials this summer.
From a selection of classic beef burgers to kebabs and pork sausages to salmon, each item has been produced right here in Scotland, giving shoppers the chance to pick up the best quality meat and fish products from the country’s world leading natural larder at everyday amazing Aldi prices.
Aldi is on the hunt for new store locations in Edinburgh as part of its rapid expansion drive.The priority areas where it is looking include Bonnyrigg and Drylaw.
Aldi, which already has more than 960 stores across the UK, is looking for freehold town-centre or edge-of-town sites that are around 1.5 acres.
Each site should be able to accommodate a 20,000 sq foot store with around 100 parking spaces. Ideally the location will be near a main road with good visibility and access.
The UK’s fifth-largest supermarket even offers a finder’s fee for people who recommend a site, including members of the public – which is either 1.5% of a freehold price or 10% of the first year’s rent for leasehold sites.
George Brown, National Property Director at Aldi UK, said: “By opening more Aldi stores, we can provide affordable, high-quality food to even more people.
“But despite our growth in recent years, some people still don’t have access to a local store, which is why it is our mission to continue on with our ambitious plans and change that.
“Our finder’s fee is available to anyone who can find Aldi an appropriate site so we’d encourage people to share any suitable suggestions and get it touch.”
Morrisons Introduces Evening Meals for Under a Fiver in its Cafés
– Customers can get an evening meal and a drink for just £4.99 –
– Menu rotates each day and includes roast chicken, a British beef burger and the ultimate fish & chips –
– Kids eat free so a family of four can enjoy a meal for under £10 –
Morrisons is introducing a ‘meal of the day’ for under a fiver to its cafés nationwide. Every weekday from 3pm, a ‘Daily Special’ will be discounted, offering a saving of up to £3.89 on the individual product price.
The meal on offer will rotate each day and customers can choose from British roast chicken served with chips and coleslaw, a hearty chicken tikka masala, a 9-piece breakfast brunch, a succulent British cheeseburger served with chips and coleslaw and the ultimate beer-battered fish and chips. The offer includes a drink and vegetarian alternatives are also available.
Each of these Morrisons classics will be priced at just £4.99, making them cheaper than the same evening meals at Wetherspoons, Harvester and Beefeater.
What’s more, kids can now eat free all day with the purchase of any adult meal meaning a family of four can enjoy a meal out together for just £9.98.
Ali Lyons, Head of Morrisons Cafés, says: “We know how hard it is for our customers at the moment and we want to make sure they are still able to enjoy a meal out, even on a budget.
“We’ve handpicked these favourites so that no matter what day it is, our customers can enjoy a saving.”
Morrisons £4.99 offer will be available in its 406 cafés nationwide after 3pm every weekday.
The ‘Daily Specials’ on offer are:
Monday
· Roast Chicken served with Chips & Coleslaw or· Cheese & Onion Quiche served with Chips & Coleslaw
Tuesday
· Chicken Tikka Masala or· Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Wednesday
· Breakfast Brunch or· Full Vegetarian Breakfast
Thursday
· Cheeseburger served with Chips & Coleslaw or· Vegetarian burger served with Chips & Coleslaw
– New tree experts will provide guidance on which trees to plant and where to plant them to improve sustainability, soil health and farm productivity –
– Move will also help farmers unlock government funding and grants and to make income from their tree schemes –
Morrisons has employed a team of ‘Tree Advisors’ who will give specialist advice to UK farmers on the best species of trees to plant, where to plant them and how to manage their woodland – to have the best environmental effect without impacting upon their farm business.
The Tree Advisors will work with Morrisons network of 3,000 farmers to plant the right tree species in the right place for the right reasons, to gain government and grant funding to cover their costs, and to bring in additional income from their woodland projects.
The initiative, in partnership with Natural England and the Forestry Commission, forms part of Morrisons plan to become directly supplied by net zero British farms by 2030 and net zero for emissions by 2040. Farmers at Morrisons 50 net zero blueprint farms will be the first to be offered access to the scheme, which will be rolled out more widely in the coming months.
UK agriculture currently accounts for 10 per cent of all UK greenhouse gas emissions. Trees and woodlands are a key part of farming sustainably as they can store carbon, limit soil erosion, prevent flooding, control erosion on watercourses and help provide habitats for wildlife.
New government targets have outlined that approximately 7,000 hectares of woodlands should be planted by 2024.
Winter storms across the UK have contributed to the felling of millions of trees. It is anticipated that Storm Arwen in November 2021 led to the loss of 8 million trees over 4,000 hectares.
In 2019, the Government launched the Woodland Carbon Guarantee to boost tree-planting rates and create new woodland in return for payment. The scheme offered £50 million to land managers who planted trees to sequester carbon and who could sell ‘woodland carbon units’ back to the government.Government support has also been offered by the England Woodland Creation Offer, along with grants from the Countryside Stewardship and the Woodland Trust.
This funding has been welcomed by farmers, who whilst understanding the need for tree-planting, have also raised concerns about the investment needed to fund saplings and that planting could encroach on land set aside for food production.
Sophie Throup, Head of Agricultureat Morrisons, said: “As British farming’s biggest customer, we have a responsibility to help our farmers overcome the challenges of working more sustainably.
“Many farmers, while recognising the value of trees in their landscape, are worried that tree planting initiatives will mean that valuable land is taken from food production – even when funded by the government.
“We want to take this worry away and help farmers identify what trees work for them on their farm, in the right places and for the right reasons.”
Morrisons Tree Advisors will offer expert advice to farmers on a case-by-case basis and will work with farmers to create individual woodland planting and management plans.
They will identify which trees are best in which place, how tree planting can complement farming business activity and what environmental benefit they will bring. They will also advise how to unlock government and grant funding to finance the planting of trees, as well as how to secure income from their projects.
Aldi Scotland is returning to the Royal Highland Show with its biggest presence ever as it continues to bolster its support of local Scottish suppliers.
After a two-year hiatus, this year’s Royal Highland Show will celebrate its 200th anniversary, returning to Ingliston to showcase the best of Scotland’s food, farming, and rural life.
To mark the occasion, Aldi Scotland will showcase 22 of its popular suppliers from all over the country, giving visitors the chance to try a range of Scotland’s best quality products; from Angus Soft Fruits’ delicious Scottish berries (above) to a variety of Robertson’s Fine Foods’ Specially Selected Sausages. A selection of Brownings the Bakers’ most-loved meat and vegetable pies and baked goods will also be on offer.
Visitors to the Aldi Scotland marquee can also try locally produced Scottish Buffalo Mozzarella following the retailer’s recent deal with Fife-based The Buffalo Farm.
Made from the milk of grass-fed water buffalo, which are selected from the best herds across Europe, The Buffalo Farm’s Mozzarella is sumptuously creamy, full of flavour, and has a wonderfully soft texture.
The popular budget retailer, which was named the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket in 2021 by Which?, is renowned for its relationship with Scottish suppliers and championing of local produce. Aldi Scotland currently works with over 90 local suppliers, stocking 450 Scottish products, and is constantly on the lookout to bring more of Scotland’s vibrant food and drink industry to its 102 Scottish stores.
Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “The Royal Highland Show is a huge event in the Aldi Scotland calendar, and one that we have really missed over the past couple of years. Everyone is looking forward to returning this year and celebrating the very best produce that Scotland has to offer.
“At Aldi Scotland, we are incredibly proud of the strong relationships we have developed with our Scottish suppliers over the years which allow us to consistently provide exceptionally high-quality products at everyday low prices.
“I am so pleased to be welcoming back visitors to our stand this year and am grateful to our suppliers who allow us to showcase the very best of Scotland’s larder.”
This year’s Royal Highland Show runs from Thursday 23rd June until Sunday 26th June at Ingliston, Edinburgh.
Aldi has transformed Scotland’s most-loved breakfast food into something even better with its Big Man Square Sausage, which is double the thickness of a regular square sausage.
Guaranteed to have Dads across the country clearing their plates, the Big Man Square Sausage is ideal for an indulgent Scottish fry up or in a morning roll.
Aldi worked with award-winning Scottish Butcher, We Hae Meat, to create the Lauchlan Burn Big Man Square Sausage, which makes for the perfect addition to a Father’s Day breakfast feast.
Aldi shoppers can pick up the tasty breakfast item, which is available at Aldi stores across Scotland from 16th June, for just £1.49 for a pack of two (260g), while stocks last.
