CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 720,044	$ 512,951	$ 846,912
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, pre-tax amount	(13,041)	(59,707)	(26,851)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments, after-tax amount	(13,041)	(59,707)	(26,851)
Pension and post-retirement benefit plans:
Net actuarial gain (loss) and prior service cost, pre-tax amount	20,304	(5,559)	(158,613)
Net actuarial gain (loss) and prior service cost, tax (expense) benefit	(7,776)	2,002	59,004
Net actuarial gain (loss) and prior service cost, after-tax amount	12,528	(3,557)	(99,609)
Reclassification to earnings, pre-tax amount	56,604	52,469	23,252
Reclassification to earnings, tax (expense) benefit	(21,653)	(18,910)	(8,659)
Reclassification to earnings, after-tax amount	34,951	33,559	14,593
Cash flow hedges:
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedging derivatives, pre-tax amount	(52,708)	61,839	(61,358)
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedging derivatives, tax (expense) benefit	18,701	(23,520)	24,281
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedging derivatives, after-tax amount	(34,007)	38,319	(37,077)
Reclassification to earnings, pre-tax amount	(16,482)	(36,634)	(67,403)
Reclassification to earnings, tax (expense) benefit	7,524	13,416	24,341
Reclassification to earnings, after-tax amount	(8,958)	(23,218)	(43,062)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, pre-tax amount	(5,323)	12,408	(290,973)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, tax (expense) benefit	(3,204)	(27,012)	98,967
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, after-tax amount	(8,527)	(14,604)	(192,006)
Total comprehensive income	711,517	498,347	654,906
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	3,664	2,152	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The Hershey Company	$ 715,181	$ 500,499	$ 654,906