CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Net sales	$ 7,986,252	$ 7,791,069	$ 7,515,426
Cost of sales	4,363,774	4,215,744	4,060,050
Gross profit	3,622,478	3,575,325	3,455,376
Selling, marketing and administrative expense	1,905,929	1,874,829	1,885,492
Long-lived and intangible asset impairment charges	112,485	57,729	208,712
Business realignment costs	8,112	19,103	47,763
Operating profit	1,595,952	1,623,664	1,313,409
Interest expense, net	144,125	138,837	98,282
Other (income) expense, net	71,043	74,766	104,459
Income before income taxes	1,380,784	1,410,061	1,110,668
Provision for income taxes	234,032	239,010	354,131
Net income including noncontrolling interest	1,146,752	1,171,051	756,537
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,940)	(6,511)	(26,444)
Net income attributable to The Hershey Company	$ 1,149,692	$ 1,177,562	$ 782,981
Common stock
Net income per share—basic:
Net income per share - basic (USD per share)	$ 5.64	$ 5.76	$ 3.79
Net income per share—diluted:
Net income per share - diluted (USD per share)	5.46	5.58	3.66
Dividends paid per share:
Dividends paid per share (USD per share)	2.990	2.756	2.548
Class B common stock
Net income per share—basic:
Net income per share - basic (USD per share)	5.12	5.24	3.44
Net income per share—diluted:
Net income per share - diluted (USD per share)	5.10	5.22	3.44
Dividends paid per share:
Dividends paid per share (USD per share)	$ 2.716	$ 2.504	$ 2.316