CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 04, 2021	Jun. 28, 2020	Jul. 04, 2021	Jun. 28, 2020
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income including noncontrolling interest	$ 301,230	$ 268,042	$ 698,101	$ 536,825
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation gains (losses) during period, pre-tax amount	12,996	3,052	14,194	(48,292)
Foreign currency translation gains (losses) during period, tax	0	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation gains (losses) during period, after-tax amount	12,996	3,052	14,194	(48,292)
Reclassification to earnings due to the sale of businesses, tax (expense) benefit, pre-tax amount	0	0	5,210	0
Reclassification to earnings due to the sale of businesses, tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0	0
Reclassification to earnings due to the sale of businesses, after tax	0	0	5,210	0
Pension and post-retirement benefit plans:
Net actuarial gain (loss) and service cost, pre-tax amount	18,481	(16,685)	20,705	(16,685)
Net actuarial gain (loss) and service cost, tax (expense) benefit	(4,399)	3,954	(4,928)	3,954
Net actuarial gain (loss) and service cost, after tax	14,082	(12,731)	15,777	(12,731)
Reclassification to earnings, pre-tax amount	8,936	8,542	15,789	13,297
Reclassification to earnings, tax (expense) benefit	(2,201)	(2,183)	(4,068)	(2,731)
Reclassification to earnings, after-tax amount	6,735	6,359	11,721	10,566
Cash flow hedges:
(Losses) gains on cash flow hedging derivatives, pre-tax amount	(6,344)	675	(7,979)	6,056
(Losses) gains on cash flow hedging derivatives, tax (expense) benefit	(446)	838	(159)	(268)
(Losses) gains on cash flow hedging derivatives, after-tax amount	(6,790)	1,513	(8,138)	5,788
Reclassification to earnings, pre-tax amount	5,681	1,205	8,818	3,297
Reclassification to earnings, tax (expense) benefit	158	(817)	(382)	(1,930)
Reclassification to earnings, after-tax amount	5,839	388	8,436	1,367
Total other comprehensive income (loss), pre-tax amount	39,750	(3,211)	56,737	(42,327)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), tax (expense) benefit	(6,888)	1,792	(9,537)	(975)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), after-tax amount	32,862	(1,419)	47,200	(43,302)
Total comprehensive income including noncontrolling interest	334,092	266,623	745,301	493,523
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(8)	(826)	6,326	(3,288)
Comprehensive income attributable to The Hershey Company	$ 334,100	$ 267,449	$ 738,975	$ 496,811