What’s going on with Easter eggs this year? In what ways has Netflix’s Adolescence struck a chord? And are rave cafés displacing traditional nightlife venues?
Below we explore three topics on our radar this month and their impact on consumers. By scanning the headlines, keeping tabs on social media conversations and tuning into the zeitgeist, we connect the dots between our trends and the wider world so that you can make sense of what’s happening now and what it means for you.
1. Consumers prepare to have an egg-cellent Easter – without the eggs
What’s happening?
The Easter Bunny isn’t leaving just eggs in baskets this year – in fact, it might be leaving anything but. Shrinkflation, bird flu and a desire for uniqueness are all leading to different treats ruling the holiday.
In the UK – which spends approximately £2 billion (c. $2.6 billion) on Easter treats – consumers are noticing a flattening of traditional chocolate eggs. A Reddit post with more than 2,000 upvotes laments that Cadbury eggs, a long-time seasonal staple, are oddly flat this year; commentors posit that the brand is skimping on chocolate and filling to save costs without lowering the price for consumers, a classic case of shrinkflation. The original poster likens the new appearance to an “Easter potato”.
Easter potatoes are also a topic of conversation in the US. As the price of eggs remains high due to a combination of inflation and spreading bird flu, suggestions are being made to save money by making colorful potatoes instead of dying hard-boiled eggs, as is tradition. Despite increased food costs, Americans are expected to outspend Brits on seasonal chocolate and candy this year, at $3.1 billion.
But it’s not just negative forces that are changing the shape of Easter offerings. As both a cultural and commercial event, consumers also desire unique and premium treats to celebrate the holiday. Brands are tapping into this mindset with limited-edition products, from unexpected chocolate shapes to luxury gift baskets. Highlights this year include a chocolate “egg sandwich” from Hotel Chocolat, chocolate dogs, cats, cows and dinosaurs from Marks & Spencer and a chocolate croissant from Waitrose.
Non-food brands are getting in on the action too. Guinness partnered with Lir to create a dark chocolate rugby ball. On the luxury end of the spectrum, Le Chocolat Maxime Frédéric at Louis Vuitton is giving consumers in Paris, Shanghai, Singapore and New York a chance to purchase chocolates modeled on the designer’s iconic egg bag. Beyond edible options, a handful of beauty brands are launching egg-shaped gift boxes filled with personal care products rather than candy and chocolate.
Action for brands:
Help consumers save money in unexpected ways. Although increased egg and chocolate prices are especially noticeable around Easter, consumers continue to deal with financial instability and a high cost of living year-round. Brands are getting creative with methods of helping people cut costs; for instance, skincare brand The Ordinary offered cartons of a dozen eggs for the “ordinary” price of $3.37 for one weekend in NYC.
2. Everyone’s watching Adolescence – and talking about the “manosphere”
What’s happening?
Adolescence has captured audiences all over the world. Across four episodes, the story follows a 13-year-old boy who is accused of murdering a girl from his school. The Netflix series calls into question the negative implications of social media use, tackling topics like incel culture, misogyny and harmful content young boys are being exposed to online.
Since its release, the show has broken viewership records on the streaming platform, reaching 66.3 million views in its first two weeks. It also became the first streaming show to dominate Britain’s weekly TV ratings according to audience measurement organization Barb. In March 2025, the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told Parliament that there is an urgent need to tackle the “emerging and growing problem” of young boys being exposed to misogynist content and wants the show to be televised in schools to combat toxic masculinity and violence.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), knife crime in England and Wales went up by 4.4% in 2024 and a poll conducted by Amnesty International found that 73% of Gen Z social media users have witnessed misogynistic content online, with half encountering it every week. Given that our data forecast shows that 82% of global consumers will use social media platforms at least once a day by 2032, the scenarios in Adolescence have added momentum to our trend Tech Anxiety, especially among parents of young children.
While the show paints a clear picture of a serious problem facing younger generations, the solution feels difficult to reach. Show creator Jack Thorne has expressed the need for radical changes: “We’ve got to change the culture that they’re consuming and how our technology is facilitating this culture. That’s going to take a mass of different things to facilitate in schools and homes, and that requires government help.” Big tech firms have come under criticism for failing to promote online safety, and there are growing calls for regulation and accountability amid mental health and misinformation concerns.
Actions for brands:
Consider all the nuances in conversations about digital safety. In November 2024, the Australian Federal Parliament passed the world’s first ban on social media for individuals under 16 and it will restrict access for young people on Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat and TikTok. However, a study by Lancet’s Regional Health Europe found that restrictive phone use at school didn’t reduce the overall time they spent online. Does this method need to be part of a wider strategy to mitigate the harmful effects of social media?
Counter the negative impacts of tech by reinvigorating offline innovations. For example, at Milan Design Week in April 2024, Heineken collaborated with Bodega to create a flip phone devoid of smartphone features, with no access to the internet and only a low-res camera. By making low-tech devices like these cool and covetable, brands can encourage young people to spend less time interacting with harmful online content.
3. Coffee shops and grocery stores are the new rave venues
What’s happening?
As traditional nightlife venues struggle, a growing number of cafés and supermarkets are throwing open their doors for revelers looking for dance music and a fun time. At SXSW 2025 in Austin, Texas, DJ Mr Rogers was just one of the artists who hosted a morning “coffee party“, while grocery store Royal Blue Grocery was the unlikely venue for a party sponsored by canned watermelon water brand Mela. Other examples include #FredsCoffeeParty, which organizes events complete with “epic brews, live DJs and endless energy” across Dubai, Kitchen Rave in Mumbai’s cloud kitchen The Baykery, On Rotate events at London brunch spot Dudley’s, and a pop-up rave from afro house DJs autograf at Lavender and Truffles ice cream bar in LA. And, as spring approaches in the northern hemisphere, there’s no doubt we’ll see more alternative outdoor venues playing host to exciting micro-parties.
As well as providing an alternative to standard nightlife and parties, this movement opens up a new revenue stream for struggling hospitality and retail venues – and a chance to position these as critical third spaces for consumers.
The rise of rave cafés and supermarkets also creates new opportunities for brand partnerships. Food, beverage and alcohol brands have clear synergies, and dating apps like Tinder have also gotten involved, with the brand hosting “date night raves” at a bagel shop and bakery in London.
Actions for brands:
Rethink your event strategy as consumers gravitate towards offbeat venues. Warnings about the end of nightlife have become increasingly urgent. In 2024, the Night Time Industries Association cautioned that if clubs in the UK continue to close at the current rate, the “last night out” (when the last club closes permanently) will be on December 31, 2029. A lack of suitable venues has led not just to coffee shop raves, but also other innovations including parent-and-baby dance parties, which are gaining in popularity in the US, UK, Germany and elsewhere, and an increase in women’s sports bars, which are predicted to quadruple in the US in 2025.
Support consumers in their quest to find social connections. The decline in drinking alcohol among younger consumers is also driving a reconfiguration of the events industry, with morning and daytime parties fueled on energy drinks and coffee, rather than booze, finding appeal. 35% of consumers agree they find it difficult to meet new people, while 32% agree they often feel lonely (source: Foresight Factory, nine-country average, 16+, 2025). Given this, it’s likely that the rise of the café rave is also a response to the consumer demand for stronger social connections and a way to tackle loneliness.
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These signals are part of a longer report published on Collision, our dynamic trends intelligence platform. Members get access to these reports at the beginning of every month, so they always have a finger on the pulse of consumers and culture. If you’re interested in learning more about Collision and how the platform can make a difference to your business, get in touch today.
