Sainsbury’s are ‘investing £25m into a package of support’ to give their workers a pay rise and ‘access to basic food items’

Sainsbury’s have given their workers another pay rise and are offering them free food during their shifts to help them through the cost of living crisis.

Sainbury’s are “investing £25 million into a package of support” £20 million will go towards a pay increase were around 127,000 hourly paid staff will receive a 25p increase from October.

The UK’s second largest supermarket chain along with Argos retail staff  will now see a minimum pay increase of 25p an hour to £10.25 per hour and workers in London will receive a rise from £11.05 to £11.30 per hour.

The supermarket chain said they will also provide workers “access to basic food items during shifts” from the first week of October until the end of December.

“The free food will ensure that colleagues can have something to eat while they are at work and the longer and deeper discounts will help colleagues plan and manage their budgets through the autumn and in the run up to Christmas,” the company said.

Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury’s said, “Every day, I am hearing from colleagues who are really feeling the pressures of the rising cost of living.

“That’s why we are doing everything we can to help our colleagues as they face rising bills and living costs this autumn by investing £25 million into a package of support, including an early pay increase.

“This is the first time we have given two pay rises in the same year.”