CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 01, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 567,339	$ 693,686
Accounts receivable - trade	502,455	399,499
Inventories	649,454	648,953
Deferred income taxes	121,750	136,861
Prepaid expenses and other	171,447	167,559
Total current assets	2,012,445	2,046,558
Property, Plant and Equipment, at cost	3,658,570	3,588,558
Less-accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,072,683)	(2,028,841)
Net property, plant and equipment	1,585,887	1,559,717
Goodwill	594,741	516,745
Other Intangibles	225,919	111,913
Deferred Income Taxes	32,553	38,544
Other Assets	147,912	138,722
Total assets	4,599,457	4,412,199
Current Liabilities:
Accounts Payable	380,404	420,017
Accrued liabilities	598,210	612,186
Accrued income taxes	100,740	1,899
Short-term debt	146,677	42,080
Current portion of long-term debt	97,778	97,593
Total current liabilities	1,323,809	1,173,775
Long-term Debt	1,748,630	1,748,500
Other Long-term Liabilities	614,586	617,276
Deferred Income Taxes	26,839	0
Total liabilities	3,713,864	3,539,551
Stockholders' Equity
Preferred Stock, Value, Issued	0	0
Common Stock, shares issued	299,271	299,269
Class B Common Stock, shares issued	60,630	60,632
Additional paid-in capital	503,949	490,817
Retained earnings	4,814,715	4,699,597
Treasury-Common Stock shares at cost	(4,421,932)	(4,258,962)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(396,303)	(442,331)
The Hershey Company stockholders' equity	860,330	849,022
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	25,263	23,626
Total stockholders' equity	885,593	872,648
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 4,599,457	$ 4,412,199