Aldi has defied the recession by increasing its graduate intake by 50% for 2009.

Earlier this week, High Fliers Research reported graduate intake is to be cut across the board by 17% - but Aldi will be offering 150 graduate management positions this year as opposed to 100 in 2008, following a 25% increase in sales.

The budget retailer hit the headlines this week for its university leaver's package offering a starting salary of £40,000 rising to £60,000 with the use of an Audi company car. This is the top earning graduate scheme in the UK.

Graduates at Aldi will receive training in retail management, operations, financial administration, logistics, property management, leadership skills, commercial awareness and customer service.

Dan Ronald, regional managing director responsible for graduate recruitment at Aldi, said: "Nobody grows up wanting to be a discount retail executive. But if you look beyond the job title, it's a people-focused job that offers great opportunities for progression."