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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ARhbJ7TeEO8Upqed74jniId9XvrujB1c8cH8fcvKPPgkjx080gchKLJJofsl7JVo
 XxVJ0wbRnEOjI0OR54Rprw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-03-010750.txt : 20031114
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-03-010750.hdr.sgml : 20031114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031114114750
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-03-010750
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031113
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PAXTON GARY C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001192938

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-02402
		FILM NUMBER:		031001590

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 HORMEL PLACE
		CITY:			AUSTINE
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55912

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000048465
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MEAT PACKING PLANTS [2011]
		IRS NUMBER:				410319970
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 HORMEL PL
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55912-3680
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5074375737

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 HORMEL PLACE
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55912-3680

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HORMEL GEO A & CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-11-13</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000048465</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HORMEL FOODS CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HRL</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192938</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PAXTON GARY C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 HORMEL PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AUSTIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55912</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-11-13</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5305</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>27.05</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8817</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2003-11-13</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5305</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>10.25</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>14122</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.25</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-11-13</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>14000</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>10.25</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><value>1994-07-25</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2004-01-25</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>14000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
<derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value>
<footnoteId id="F3"></footnoteId>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionDate><value>2003-11-13</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>8695</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>8695</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8695</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeTransaction>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Reporting person also holds 979 shares indirectly in Founders Fund.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">The reporting person elected to defer receipt of 8,695 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of his option, resulting in the accrual to his account of 8,695 shares of phantom stock.</footnote>
<footnote id="F3">Settles in common stock at 1-for-1 upon retirement from the Company.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>Gary C. Paxton, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-11-14</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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