The purpose of the article was to confirm the thesis of the rapidly growing commercial importance of transnational corporations in food retailing in the world, especially in Poland and their influence on other actors in the food chain. The article presents the development of the largest commercial transnational corporations in the world and in Poland and description of the major changes in food trade in our country. The study based on an analysis of the literature and statistical data. It confirmed that the importance of commercial corporations in the food industry is very large and will continue to increase.