SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	3 Months Ended
Apr. 05, 2015
Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of Presentation The unaudited consolidated financial statements provided in this report include the accounts of The Hershey Company (the “Company,” “Hershey,” “we” or “us”) and our majority-owned subsidiaries and entities in which we have a controlling financial interest after the elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions. We have a controlling financial interest if we own a majority of the outstanding voting common stock and the noncontrolling shareholders do not have substantive participating rights, or we have significant control over an entity through contractual or economic interests in which we are the primary beneficiary. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial reporting and with the rules and regulations for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not contain certain information and disclosures required by GAAP for comprehensive financial statements. Our significant interim accounting policies include the recognition of a pro-rata share of certain estimated annual amounts primarily for raw material purchase price variances, advertising expense, incentive compensation expenses and the effective income tax rate. We have included all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) that we believe are considered necessary for a fair presentation. Operating results for the quarter ended April 5, 2015 may not be indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015 because of seasonal effects on our business. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 (our “2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K”), which provides a more complete understanding of our accounting policies, financial position, operating results and other matters. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU No. 2014-09 will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for us on January 1, 2017. Early application is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We are currently evaluating the effect that ASU No. 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. ASU No. 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. Retrospective application is required and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU No. 2015-03 is not expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements or related disclosures. No other new accounting pronouncement issued or effective during the fiscal year had or is expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or related disclosures.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The unaudited consolidated financial statements provided in this report include the accounts of The Hershey Company (the “Company,” “Hershey,” “we” or “us”) and our majority-owned subsidiaries and entities in which we have a controlling financial interest after the elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions. We have a controlling financial interest if we own a majority of the outstanding voting common stock and the noncontrolling shareholders do not have substantive participating rights, or we have significant control over an entity through contractual or economic interests in which we are the primary beneficiary.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial reporting and with the rules and regulations for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not contain certain information and disclosures required by GAAP for comprehensive financial statements. Our significant interim accounting policies include the recognition of a pro-rata share of certain estimated annual amounts primarily for raw material purchase price variances, advertising expense, incentive compensation expenses and the effective income tax rate. We have included all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) that we believe are considered necessary for a fair presentation.

Operating results for the quarter ended April 5, 2015 may not be indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015 because of seasonal effects on our business. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 (our “2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K”), which provides a more complete understanding of our accounting policies, financial position, operating results and other matters.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. ASU No. 2014-09 will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for us on January 1, 2017. Early application is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We are currently evaluating the effect that ASU No. 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, Interest - Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. ASU No. 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the

balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. Retrospective application is required and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU No. 2015-03 is not expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements or related disclosures.

No other new accounting pronouncement issued or effective during the fiscal year had or is expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or related disclosures.