Grocery giant Sainsbury’s has issued a pay rise for all its frontline staff alongside a third one-off recognition payment for their work during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

The retailer said it would boost Sainsbury’s and Argos frontline staff’s hourly pay packets to £9.50 from March, up from £9.30 for supermarket staff and £9 an hour for those working at the general merchandise specialist. 

For those staff working in zones one and two in London, hourly pay will be increased to £10.10, up from £9.90. 

Sainsbury’s also said it would be awarding a third lump-sum payment for frontline staff based on 3% of their annual pay, worth up to £530 for a full-time employee, for those working in stores, as well as logistics and customer Careline teams in May. 

Between the three coronavirus bonus payments and pay rises, Sainsbury’s said it had invested more than £100m in “rewarding frontline colleagues” since March 2020. 

Sainsbury’s retail and digital director Clodagh Moriarty said: “In the last 12 months, our frontline colleagues have shown outstanding commitment to our customers. In recognition of everything they have achieved, we are giving them a pay rise, plus an additional one-off payment. 

“I feel so proud and humbled by the dedication our colleagues have shown, day in, day out, and would like to thank everyone for the part they have played in helping to feed the nation throughout an extraordinary year.”