Investment as a Factor of the Company’s Competitiveness

Maintaining a high level of competitiveness is the main task of any enterprise in a market economy, which cannot be solved without some investment. The purpose of the study was to consider investments as a factor in the company’s competitiveness and to determine the influence of investment activity on the level of competitiveness using the example of the retail food market. The objectives of the study were to study the theoretical foundations of the relationship between investment and the competitiveness of a company, assess competition in the food retail market in the Russian Federation and compare the level of competitiveness of market leaders with the level of their investment activity. To solve the set research tasks, the article used the methods of system analysis, comparative analysis, methods of statistical analysis. Based on the results of the study, a relationship was defined between investment activity and the components of the competitive potential of companies. The article provides statistical data on the state of competition in the food retail market of the Russian Federation, reflects the market shares of the largest players. Based on the data from the financial statements of the companies, information is provided on the volume of investments in retail networks of the Russian Federation over the past 3 years. Based on a comparison of data on the market share of retail food networks and the level of their investment activity, it was concluded that there is a direct positive relationship between the volume of a company’s investments and its market share, as one of the indicators of competitiveness. The article also presents promising areas of investment in retail food networks to increase the level of competitiveness in a strategic perspective.