The purpose of the article is to conduct a retrospective survey of development and analysis of conditions of Ukrainian food industry, and to research the depth of formation of the state regulation paradigm and the evolutionary-transformational changes. Research methods. Such scientific methods have been used in the research process: abstract and logical (for systematization of apparent theoretical materials); empirical (for comprehensive assessment of the current state of the food industry development); statistical-economic (to identify the tendencies of structural and economic changes in food production); comparison (in context of change of the state regulation paradigm and its influence on development of the food industry branches); synthesis (for combination of socio-economic processes and formation of stages of the food industry development). Research results. In the course of the study a typology has been carried out, regarding the periods of development and state regulation of the food production in Ukraine under critical conditions, during market transformations, integration processes, and under modern conditions as well. An estimation of the qualitative and quantitative indicators of the food industry has been carried out. The main problems, caused by negative political and socio-economic processes, and global challenges of economic reality, have been revealed, and development prospects of the food industry in context of European integration have been determined. Elements of scientific novelty. On basis of the research and the previous scientific attainment of scholars in economics, an approximate division of the branches of food industry production into three units has been offered: conditionally active, conditionally passive, and those containing stimulation traits, which as a result of continuous transformation processes are characterized by diverse and multisectoral activities that influence on it in various stages of a lifecycle. Practical significance. From a practical point of view, the research can be a basis for further scientific discourse regarding alternative variants for increasing an efficiency of state regulation of Ukrainian food industry development, both in general and its separate branches (sub-sectors). Figs.: 1. Refs.: 20.