Following Britain’s third heatwave of the summer, new research has revealed the products that saw the sharpest increase in demand as consumers shifted shopping priorities.
The research, by point of sale provider Epos Now, found demand for cooling products, hydration essentials, UV protective clothing, and pet accessories surged as households looked for ways to stay comfortable during the hot weather.
The research analysed Google Trends search data during the latest UK heatwave from 11th June – 10th July 2026, comparing search demand against the same period in 2025 to identify the products experiencing the biggest rise in interest.
Under the category of cooling and electrical items, several search terms were classified by Google Trends as “Breakout”, indicating an exceptional increase in search interest of more than 5,000% compared with the previous year.
Products experiencing breakout growth included:
Battery-powered fans
Split air conditioners
Cooling mats for pets
Cooling mats for humans
Cooling mattress pads
Cooling neck fans
Wearable fans
Clip-on fans
Oscillating fans
Window air conditioning units
Further products also saw significant year-on-year increases in search demand, including:
Thermal curtains (+1,000%)
USB fans (+900%)
Floor fans (+850%)
Pedestal fans (+800%)
Rechargeable fans (+750%)
Hydration and outdoor entertaining drive food and drink demand
The heatwave also fuelled a surge in searches for products designed to help people stay hydrated and enjoy time outdoors.
The following food and drink-related products all recorded breakout search growth of more than 5,000% year-on-year:
Ice cube trays
Silicone ice trays
Ice makers
Insulated water bottles
BBQ marinades
Ice pop moulds
Hydration sachets
Rehydration salts
Slushie makers
Reusable ice packs
Cooling clothing sees soaring demand
Consumers also searched for clothing designed to stay cool and protect against the sun, with several specialist products recording breakout growth. Products seeing the biggest increases included:
Cooling towels
UV protective clothing
UPF clothing
Sun sleeves
Cooling scarves
Breathable trainers
Pet owners prioritise keeping animals cool
The findings also highlight how pet owners increasingly seek products to help animals cope with rising temperatures. Every one of the following pet essentials experienced breakout search growth of more than 5,000% compared with the same period last year:
Dog paddling pools
Dog cooling vests
Dog cooling bandanas
Pet water bottles
Elevated dog beds
Frozen dog treats
Commenting on the findings, Joe Squire, Marketing Director at Epos Now, said: “Extreme weather is becoming an increasingly important driver of consumer spending. As soon as temperatures rise, shoppers begin looking for practical products that help them stay cool and comfortable, which often leads to sharp spikes in demand over a very short period of time.
“For retailers, these weather-driven shopping trends highlight the importance of being able to react quickly as soon as a heatwave comes. And, having the right products in stock is only part of the equation; businesses also need the flexibility to manage sudden increases in transactions, monitor inventory in real time, and adapt as demand changes. As heatwaves become more frequent, retailers that can react quickly to changing shopping habits will be in the strongest position to capture seasonal sales opportunities.”
