Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2012	Apr. 20, 2012 Common Class A [Member]	Apr. 20, 2012 Common Class B [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	HERSHEY CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000047111
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Apr. 01, 2012
Statement [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		163,024,603	60,629,917