CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2017	Jul. 03, 2016	Jul. 02, 2017	Jul. 03, 2016
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	$ 202,727	$ 145,956	$ 300,975	$ 375,788
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, pre-tax amount	4,322	1,420	18,273	13,586
Foreign currency translation adjustments, tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments, after-tax amount	4,322	1,420	18,273	13,586
Pension and post-retirement benefit plans:
Net actuarial gain (loss) and prior service cost, pre-tax amount	0	(29,806)	(196)	(29,806)
Net actuarial gain (loss) and prior service cost, tax (expense) benefit	0	11,350	74	11,350
Net actuarial gain (loss) and prior service cost, after-tax amount	0	(18,456)	(122)	(18,456)
Reclassification to earnings, pre-tax amount	7,091	25,625	14,244	34,305
Reclassification to earnings, tax (expense) benefit	(10,984)	(9,781)	(13,695)	(13,360)
Reclassification to earnings, after-tax amount	(3,893)	15,844	549	20,945
Cash flow hedges:
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedging derivatives, pre-tax amount	(707)	(21,072)	(2,206)	(54,981)
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedging derivatives, tax (expense) benefit	703	7,283	882	19,048
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedging derivatives, after-tax amount	(4)	(13,789)	(1,324)	(35,933)
Reclassification to earnings, pre-tax amount	2,379	(3,867)	5,412	(11,776)
Reclassification to earnings, tax (expense) benefit	(1,282)	1,692	(2,448)	4,689
Reclassification to earnings, after-tax amount	1,097	(2,175)	2,964	(7,087)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), pre-tax amount	13,085	(27,700)	35,527	(48,672)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), tax (expense) benefit	(11,563)	10,544	(15,187)	21,727
Total other comprehensive income (loss), after-tax amount	1,522	(17,156)	20,340	(26,945)
Total comprehensive income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	204,249	128,800	321,315	348,843
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(698)	(213)	(27,154)	(1,289)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to The Hershey Company	$ 204,947	$ 129,013	$ 348,469	$ 350,132