Trends and prospects for the development of bakery production in European countries

The purpose of the article is to assess the development trends of the production of bakery products in the countries of the European space and the possibilities of the national industry to strengthen its positions in the domestic and foreign markets. Research methods. The research used the methods of theoretical generalizations, dynamical, statistical comparisons and groupings to analyze trends in the development of bakery production and assess the development of individual countries according to the selected system of indicators; economic and statistical analysis to determine the level of mutual influence of factors and forecast estimates. Research results. On the basis of the proposed methodological approach and the selected system of indicators, trends in the development of the bakery industry in European countries are studied. The mutual influence of factors of the macroeconomic environment on the development of bakery production has been determined, in particular: total income from product sales; capital investment; GDP per capita; wages; exchange rate. The influence of economic globalization on the expansion of exports of bakery products is revealed. The dynamics of production and export of bakery products is estimated. Based on the experience of developed countries and existing trends, the author suggests ways of developing the national bakery market. Scientific novelty. The market shares of manufacturers in the bakery market and the share of industrial products in the total consumption of bread products in Ukraine, the influence of price factors on the formation of demand for bread and flour in European countries have been established. It has been substantiated that the main trends of the European bakery market, which will continue in the future, are: an increase in the total volume of industrial production in the EU as a whole; growing demand for functional types of products, production of flour mixtures for the needs of bakery enterprises for a given range of bakery products; diffusion of innovations in consumer packaging and semi-finished products; preservation of national traditions of consumption of flour products. The article reveals the dependence of the total income of the bakery industry on the volume of capital investment, growth in average wages and the volume of gross domestic product per capita, which is typical for Ukraine and developing countries. Practical significance. Designed for experts in the field of economics of the food industry and the bakery industry, scientific workers, teachers, graduate students and students of higher educational institutions. The results of the study can be used by specialists to assess the level of development of bakery production in individual countries of the European space, by government officials when choosing directions for food policy, by researchers to expand the scope of research. Tabl.: 3. Figs.: 7. Refs.: 39.