Online healthcare company Headspace has said it is “continually assessing” ways to make its services available for free, following criticism from retailers.

The comments come after retailers hit back at the company for failing to offer them the
discounted rates given to other essential workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

NFRN expands shopping app partnership to help retailers compete

Retailer Sophie Towers, of Hillingdon Spar Convenience Store in Burnley, Lancashire, told Better Retailing: “It was such a shame to see that retailers didn’t make the list, but supermarket workers did.

“When you sign up to be a retailer, you don’t expect to have to put your life on the line. My staff never thought they’d have to worry about going home to their families, some didn’t even go home during the worst of it.”

Headspace’s general manager for Europe, Renate Nyborg, failed to answer why independent retailers were not on the list.

Deliveroo dark stores launch across country

However, he explained: “In the wake of this pandemic, we have proactively taken steps to ensure a variety of tools are accessible to those in greatest need.

“We have provided free subscriptions to anyone in the UK who has lost their job or been placed on furlough.

“We are continually assessing ways to make Headspace available to as many people as possible.”

Read more on digital trends

Find out more on our coronavirus information hub for retailers