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Lidl announced a significant change in February which would impact all of its UK stores.

The budget supermarket confirmed it would be giving thousands of employees a pay rise, which has now come into effect.

Lidl has raised its entry-level pay to £13.45, with the allowance increasing to £14.45 with length of service.

The pay increase, which came into effect from March 1, marks the supermarket's seventh rise in just three years.

Lidl also revealed it is investing £29 million in staff pay, which will benefit both salaried and hourly-paid employees.

The change also "once again" makes Lidl the highest-paying supermarket in the UK.

All 35,000 staff members have benefited from the pay rise, with those in London seeing their hourly wage climb from £14.35 to £14.80.

There is also the opportunity for a further increase to £15.30 with length of service.

Lidl, at the time of the announcement, stated its staff members are the only ones within the industry to benefit from the Real Living Wage nationwide and the London Living Wage.

Employees are also enjoying several additional perks, including doubled paternity leave from two weeks to four on full pay, and after five years in the role, staff will be entitled to eight weeks' full pay.

Lidl GB chief people officer Stephanie Rogers said: "We're delighted to offer these family leave enhancements for new parents.

"These improvements build on our extension of paid maternity leave and further demonstrate our ongoing commitment to providing competitive and meaningful benefits to our colleagues."

Ms Rogers added: "We believe that a longer period of paid paternity leave is a vital step on our journey towards gender equality in the workplace.

"By encouraging the taking of paternity leave, particularly by our more senior male colleagues, stretch and development opportunities will be opened up for others."