CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Apr. 03, 2016	Apr. 05, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 229,832	$ 244,737
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	12,166	(27,718)
Pension and post-retirement benefit plans	5,101	5,461
Cash flow hedges:
Losses on cash flow hedging derivatives	(22,144)	(26,092)
Reclassification adjustments	(4,912)	(399)
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(9,789)	(48,748)
Total comprehensive income	220,043	195,989
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,076	3,509
Comprehensive income attributable to The Hershey Company	$ 221,119	$ 199,498

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to noncontrolling interests. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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Amount after tax, before reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments, of (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss related to pension and other postretirement defined benefit plans.

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Amount after tax of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income of accumulated gain (loss) realized from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's deferred hedging gain (loss).

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