It's going to increase further as well, the supermarkets claim were all in it togeather and they have no choice to increase the prices, but I can guarantee they will be posting record breaking profits yet again next year.
Of the big 4, 3 are actively trying to help, by at least easing the burdon on the staff, sainsburys have been giving free food to staff members who are on shift for a while now and extended that for another 6 months. They have all increased pay significantly over minimum wage, in fact in most cases its well over what the new minimum wage will be in April already.
The only company that I am aware of who have yet to do anything to help their staff is Asda, pay is still the worst of all supermarkets (as much as £2-3 an hour less), they are churning through staff like no bodies business and have recently just announced job cuts and pay cuts for the staff that replenish the store shelves over night.