Aldi will be closing doors to all its UK stores on Boxing Day this year so staff get to “spend more time with their families”.
After what has been yet another jam-packed year for the retail industry, and with the run-up to Christmas known to be one of the busiest periods of them all, many workers have been left feeling like they could do with a little extra time off.
And this is why Aldi has announced it will be shutting up shop on a major festive bank holiday this year.
The popular supermarket retailer – which currently has over 1,000 stores across the UK, and employs around 36,000 people – has confirmed that it will close all of its stores on Boxing Day, just as it has done in several years prior – with the company saying it’s to once again say thank you to its tens of thousands of employees “for all their hard work”.
Aldi is closing all UK stores on Boxing Day this year / Credit: Aldi
Britain’s fourth-largest supermarket will close on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day this year, before reopening as usual on Wednesday 27 December, so shoppers can pick up all the essentials they may need before New Year’s Day.
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As well as the planned bank holiday closures, Aldi is also reminding customers that its opening hours will vary in the run-up to Christmas too – with the supermarket operating extended hours so that everyone has the chance to stock-up on festive food, drink, and more ahead of the big day.
“We recognise that Christmas is an important time for many of our colleagues, and keeping our stores closed on Boxing Day gives them more time to spend with their families,” explained Richard Thornton, the Communications Director at Aldi UK.
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“Customers will have plenty to look forward to in the run-up to Christmas, with more of Aldi’s brand-new Christmas ranges arriving in stores over the next few weeks.”
The retailer has made the decision so staff can “spend more time with their families” / Credit: Aldi
Aldi’s confirmation that all UK stores will be shut on the Boxing Day bank holiday follows in the footsteps of fellow discount retailer Home Bargains, which was one of the first companies to announce back in mid-September that it’ll be closing all its stores across the UK on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day to make sure staff get a “well deserved break”.
Several other retailers will also be closing doors on selected dates over the festive period for similar reasons cited by Aldi and Home Bargains.
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The news that Aldi is closing this Boxing Day also comes after the company launched a massive festive recruitment drive, with the hopes of welcoming 3,000 new staff members, both temporary and permanent, to its teams at stores right across the UK ready for the busy Christmas period.
Some of the roles available include Store Assistants – with starting pay for this being an industry-leading £11.40 per hour nationally – managerial positions, cleaners, and more.
Aldi is hiring an official chicken nugget taster to send FREE nuggets to
Emily Sergeant
Aldi is in the process of adding to its eclectic team of taste testers, and this time, chicken nuggets are in the hot seat.
The budget supermarket is no stranger to calling on members of the public to try out new products before they get released in store, whether it be recruiting someone to sample all of its different wines, crisps, beers, or even chocolate Easter eggs, but this is the first time Aldi will be hiring an official Chicken Nugget Taster.
One lucky shopper will get the chance to take on their ‘dream job’, receiving a variety of Aldi nuggets for free in exchange for feedback.
That’s right, nugget connoisseurs will receive a selection of Aldi’s best-selling nuggets to sample for free – including the popular Share the Love ‘Love Nuggets’ with Date Ketchup, which are set to return to stores once again from 10 February as part of the Valentine’s range.
Not only that, but the successful applicant will also receive a selection of the supermarket’s classics and well as different takes on the nugget to try out.
Aldi is hiring an official chicken nugget taster to send free nuggets to / Credit: Aldi Corporate
And what’s in it for Aldi? All the supermarket is asking in return is a set of reviews rating the nuggets on their taste, texture, and the crispiness of their coating, to help guide the Buying Team on what products to stock in the future.
“The nation’s love for chicken nuggets is undeniable and we’re seeing a huge appetite for new and exciting flavours,” explained Julie Ashfield, who is the Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK.
“Our shoppers are our most important critics, so launching the role of an official Nugget Taster is the perfect way to ensure our products deliver the quality, taste, and price they deserve.”
Fancy it then? To be in with a chance of landing this tasty job, all you need to do is send a video application stating your name, age, and social media handles, and then say why you love chicken nuggets so much and why you should become Aldi’s first-ever Nugget Taster.
Entries are now open, and you have until 11:59pm on 4 February to apply by emailing [email protected].
Featured Image – Broken Sphere (via Wikimedia Commons)
Shopping
Manchester City finally release special Year of the Horse collection for Lunar celebrations
Danny Jones
Manchester City have officially launched their new ‘Year of the Horse’ kit, along with several other items in their latest lifestyle range.
The collection, which has been released as part of the Lunar New Year Celebrations, was leaked online in late 2025 before being officially teased earlier this year, but now Man City have fully unveiled the limited edition clothing items.
It follows the commercial success of their previous Chinese New Year-inspired kits and wider fashion lines over the last few seasons.
For anyone not up to speed on their Zodiac calendar knowledge, 2026 is officially (you guessed it) the year of the horse, hence this choice for the new ‘Capsule Collection’.
“Set in earthy, neutral tones, the limited-edition Year of the Horse Capsule Collection captures both the stillness of vintage Chinese portraiture and the motion of a team in full stride.”
Revolving around a grey and almost beige colour palette, the full drop includes a new pre-match ‘Anthem’ jacket, a dark graphic design tee, a baseball cap, as well as a soft horse plushie.
The focal point, however, is obviously the jersey itself – though it remains to be confirmed whether or not the special seasonal strip will be worn in any games this campaign as other one-off/special limited edition shirts have been in the past.
The price points range from £15 for the soft toy to £90 for the adult shirt, with the aforementioned Puma KING Anthem zip-up jacket already available in six colours.
What do you make of the latest lifestyle collection, Blues?
Somewhat fittingly, the Year of the Horse and other items finally debuted on the same day that their local rivals across the other side of town, Manchester United, released some new threads of their own: the second Adidas x The Stone Roses collection.
As for this years Lunar celebrations, the official plans for here in Manchester city centre have now been revealed. You can find out more down below.
Emily Sergeant -
7th November 2023 
