Aldi taking on 9,000 new staff to deal with Coronavirus rush

The discount retailer has launched a recruitment drive to hire 9,000 new workers, including roles in every one of its stores and distribution centres, in what is said was a bid "to help keep the nation going in uncertain times".

It has also announced new donations to some of its key charity partners, and has set out further new measures to improve the availability of products in-store and to protect against the risks of infection.

The jobs will total will consist of 5,000 new temporary jobs and has 4,000 permanent vacancies available across all parts of it business.

It has joined others across the sector to make an increased financial donation to Neighbourly, which distributes surplus food and other donations to those in need, and donated a further £100,000 to the Teenage Cancer Trust, to help ensure no young person faces cancer alone. These are in addition to its donation of £250,000 to Age UK announced earlier this week.

It added that all nappies and paper products (i.e. toilet/kitchen roll) will now be restricted to two items per customer. All other products will remain restricted to four items per customer, with the exception of non-food Specialbuys, Easter products and fresh flowers which have no restrictions.