This report analyzes and assesses yearly developments in the industry growth, conduct, performance, and structure of the institutions—food processors, wholesalers, retailers, and foodservice firms—that comprise the Nation's food marketing system. "Industry growth" includes changes in sales for each of the four sectors, product mix, and external economic factors affecting the food system. "Conduct" measures firms' competitive behavior, which includes such price and nonprice competition as advertising. promotion, new product introduction, new store formats, price discounting, and menu variety. "Performance" includes profitability, capital expansion, foreign trade and investment, research and development, capacity use, equity market changes, and productivity. "Structure" developments include mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and leveraged buyouts, and changes in number of companies and establishments.