The article addresses the problem of financial determinants of return on equity (ROE) in the food industry in Poland. The analysis was conducted on the basis of the decomposition of the rate of return on sales and in conjunction with the system of indicators linking the return on sales to return on assets and equity. In addition, in order to identify the significance of individual components of the ROE system, ordered logit regression models were estimated. The parameters of logit regression of the ordered categories justify why we look for reasons for the ROE diversity among food industries primarily in the ability to generate the added value, in the labour costs, in the rational management of financial costs, in the efficient use of wealth and in the formation of a more aggressive capital structure, determining the level of leverage.