Minimum wage rises risk driving up the cost of groceries, says Aldi boss

The comments come as supermarket chiefs fight back against claims the high rate of inflation is being used as a cover for making larger profits.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened an investigation into supermarkets over high food and fuel prices.

Regulators want to know whether there has been a failure in competition, forcing customers to overpay.

An investigation into the fuel market by the CMA has already found evidence of increased profit margins on petrol and diesel.

Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts told the BBC last week that Britain’s second-biggest supermarket chain had “absolutely not” profited from soaring food prices.

He said that pay rises at Sainsbury’s of more than 10pc had contributed  to rising prices.

Mr Hurley last month accused Aldi’s supermarket rivals of trying to sabotage plans to expand to 1,200 UK stores by 2025.

He said: “We’re receiving more objections from our competition than we used to.

“If you look at the price gap between Aldi and the more expensive traditional supermarkets it’s been very consistent for years and I guess one of the ways to try to prevent customers from taking advantage of that is to slow down or stop openings.

“We roll with it, because it will slow us down, but it won’t stop us. We’re going to keep opening stores, and we will bring a store within easy reach of every customer in the UK no matter what.”

Aldi declined to comment on Mr Hurley’s remarks during the Downing Street Food to Fork summit.