The functions of the consumer market, their changes, the essence and importance according to economic transformations are considered. The central place of the consumer food market is substantiated, special attention is paid to it during the transformations, its differences, features, significance in the degree of socio-economic development of the country are highlighted. The subjects of the market, the objectives of their business, and conflicts of interest are shown, which indicates the need to regulate their relationships for the stability and security of the consumer market. The problems in the field of food quality and safety, causes, significance, solutions. The current state of the consumer market, the role of import substitution, the dynamics of achieving food safety thresholds, growth indicators to produce basic products, increasing food exports, and prospects for its development are given. Knowing the problems of the functioning of the consumer market makes it possible to predict its further development as the basis for developing strategic models for the sale of goods and making profit, directions and the intensity of transformations not only for various sectors of the agro-industrial complex, food industry, but also for the business of packing, storing and transporting food. The need for market research, in which the consumer market should be perceived as a single functioning complex with all its problems, is emphasized.