Eggs, matcha and women’s sports bars are emerging as top trends this month, according to Yelp search data.
The change in activity for these three items increased considerably year over year, as reported on the platform’s trend tracker site.
The spread of avian flu, resulting egg shortage and sky-high prices are prompting some Yelpers to build backyard coops for egg-laying hens. Searches for chicken coops increased 700%, and those for live chickens are up 559%. Consumers not eager to raise their own chickens are looking for egg bargains outside the grocery store; searches for egg farms rose 513% since last February.
Matcha is becoming a must-have at coffee cafes as an alternative to traditional lattes and cold brews. Searches for matcha are up 180%, while matcha powder is experiencing a 791% boost. Some of this surge may be due to operators exploring untapped sources of the green tea powder, as the matcha boom is creating a shortage in Japan, according to Bloomberg. But do-it-yourselfers eager to jump on the trend may be looking to brew their own matcha drinks at home.
March Madness no longer applies only to men’s college basketball. Last year’s women’s tournament drove record interest, and with the 2025 games scheduled to begin soon, Yelp data shows an uptick in searches for “women’s sports bars” (up 1,827%), as well as “women’s sports" (up 530%).
Fans are looking for local spots, in particular, to cheer on their favorite teams, and bars with a female-friendly vibe, like The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon, and Watch Me! Sports Bar in Long Beach, California. The Sports Bra, which is primed for franchising, was founded by a woman and serves a menu that includes vegetarian fare and signature cocktails crafted with spirits from a woman-owned distillery.
“There's no doubt there's incredible momentum behind women’s sports, fueled by star athletes like Caitlin Clark, Trinity Rodman and Ilona Maher who continue to captivate fans and drive record-breaking viewership. Yelp data shows that excitement translating into real-world action, with searches for women’s sports bars skyrocketing this month as fans seek out dedicated spaces to cheer on their favorite teams," said Tara Lewis, Yelp trend expert, in a statement. "Across the country, new women’s sports bars are continuing to pop up, from A Bar of Their Own in Minneapolis and 99ers Sports Bar in Denver. Even here in D.C., spots like As You Are have created welcoming environments for fans to come together and celebrate women’s sports on the big screen.”
Yelp identifies trends within searches by measuring the frequency of the phrases mentioned per million searches on Yelp. Trend statistics are noted as year-over-year comparisons.
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