<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0001323734</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000047111</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>HERSHEY CO</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-00183</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>19 EAST CHOCOLATE AVENUE</com:street1>
        <com:street2>EXTERNAL RPTG &amp; COMPLIANCE</com:street2>
        <com:city>HERSHEY</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>PA</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>17033</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>7175344200</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Buck Michele</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Former Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>900 Salem Street</com:street1>
          <com:city>Smithfield</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>RI</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>02917</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>22726</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>4534938.78</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>148171608</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>01/14/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>01/14/2026</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Option Granted 02/20/2018</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>22726</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>01/14/2026</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Michele G. Buck</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>19 East Chocolate Avenue</com:street1>
          <com:city>Hershey</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>PA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>17033</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/17/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>700</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>133035.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Michele G. Buck</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>19 East Chocolate Avenue</com:street1>
          <com:city>Hershey</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>PA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>17033</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/18/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>200</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>38000.00</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Michele G. Buck</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>19 East Chocolate Avenue</com:street1>
          <com:city>Hershey</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>PA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>17033</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>12/19/2025</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>20156</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>3834771.72</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Michele G. Buck</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>19 East Chocolate Avenue</com:street1>
          <com:city>Hershey</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>PA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>17033</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>01/09/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1318</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>250485.37</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Michele G. Buck</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>19 East Chocolate Avenue</com:street1>
          <com:city>Hershey</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>PA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>17033</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>01/12/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>352</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>67785.20</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Michele G. Buck</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>19 East Chocolate Avenue</com:street1>
          <com:city>Hershey</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>PA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>17033</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>01/13/2026</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>22726</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>4442767.10</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>01/14/2026</noticeDate>
      <planAdoptionDates>
        <planAdoptionDate>08/20/2025</planAdoptionDate>
      </planAdoptionDates>
      <signature>/s/ Gerardo Ibarra-Munoz, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Michele G. Buck</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
