Knowledge transfer and diffusion of innovation as a source of competitiveness of food industry enterprises in Poland

Issues of the study come down to the attempt of the answer to a question: to what extent knowledge management and diffusion of innovation contributed to the raising level of competitiveness of food industry enterprises in Poland. Positive answer to the research problem may stem from the first years of membership of the European Union structures and transition of businesses to the next stages of development, using their strengths and all the opportunities that arise from the operation in a turbulent environment. The study covered the level of knowledge management funding in enterprises, the creation of innovative actions and results of measures of their performance and economic growth in the perspective of the company value. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of knowledge management and diffusion of innovation on competitiveness improvement of the food industry enterprises in Poland. The aim paved the concept and operationalization of the research towards identification of the relationship between expenditures on knowledge management and diffusion of innovation and raising of competitiveness of food industry enterprises in Poland. The study of the relationships is also apparent from the fact that in the postaccession period there has been observed a continuous development of food industry enterprises and their recapitalization that led to a higher position in the local, national and international market. The essence of the validity of these studies is underscored by the widespread thesis of the detachment of rational consumption needs, which is referred to as consumerism.