Aldi has pushed up wages for lorry drivers amid a shortage of drivers across the UK food supply chain.

It is reported by The Times that the supermarket chain has pushed through a wage rise to maintain its position as the highest payer in the industry, and to prevent its drivers from being poached by other firms.

The supermarket chain confirmed the rise following similar incentives by grocers to attract HGV drivers.

Aldi did not expand on the details of its pay rise for lorry drivers, but its careers website states wages are between £14.15 and £15.34 per hour for day shifts, and £16.98 and £18.41 per hour for night shifts.

Some other measures being taken across the industry to tackle the shortages include:

• Tesco has offered drivers a £1,000 joining bonus for candidates who join before 30th September
• Morrisons has also said it is setting up schemes to train staff to become lorry drivers
• Wholesale food and catering supplier JJ Foodservice is launching a recruitment campaign to encourage more women to become HGV drivers.