8 tech trends shaping future chicken consumption

New and evolving technologies provide the broiler industry with opportunities to continue to improve engagement with chicken consumers.

“My job is to make you think bigger,” said Kevin Ryan, the founder and CEO of Malachite Strategy and Research, the keynote speaker for the 2025 Chicken Marketing Summit.

During his session, Ryan previewed several existing technologies and discussed how these technologies could affect the future of the broiler industry.

1. Spatial computing

Artificial reality (AR) glasses, in-home furniture showcasing and make-up virtual try-ons are already changing the way consumers shop, but the tech that allows the real and virtual worlds to collide is still in its infancy, Ryan said.

In the future, emerging tech could use spatial computing for live-prep visuals in foodservice that gives transparency into the fire-grilled chicken bowl at your local burrito place through AR glasses, for example, and augmented prep assistance with AR glasses providing live step-by-step prep guides for that new recipe.

2. Smarter kitchens

The smart kitchen of the future – whether in a house or in the back of a restaurant – will feature upgrades to the smart appliances of today. For example, smart refrigerators will help optimize food freshness by having zones with vacuum assist to speed marination.

3. Wearable tech

Today’s wearable technology mostly focuses on fitness or generalized nutrition. Tomorrow’s wearable tech could include smart earbuds that gamify activity by linking it to coupons and geolocation, connect to grocery and delivery loyalty or even sync to in-store kiosks that offer custom selections and solutions. Imagine going for a run and having your earbuds tell you that if you make your run goal, you can get a discount on the nearby chicken sandwich place. Ryan called this one of the more important trends on the list.