CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common stock	Class B common stock	Preferred Stock	Common stock Common stock	Common stock Class B common stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Common stock	Retained Earnings Class B common stock	Treasury Common Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interests in Subsidiaries
Beginning balance, stockholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 1,744,994			$ 0	$ 160,939	$ 60,614	$ 1,142,210	$ 1,290,461			$ (591,036)	$ (323,966)	$ 5,772
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to The Hershey Company	540,038							540,038
Net gain (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,213)												(3,213)
Net income including noncontrolling interest	536,825
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(43,302)											(43,227)	(75)
Dividends (including dividend equivalents):
Common Stock		$ (228,854)	$ (85,102)						$ (228,854)	$ (85,102)
Stock-based compensation	25,180						25,180
Exercise of stock options and incentive-based transactions	17,544						(5,512)				23,056
Repurchase of common stock	(211,196)										(211,196)
Ending balance, stockholders' equity at Jun. 28, 2020	1,756,089			0	160,939	60,614	1,161,878	1,516,543			(779,176)	(367,193)	2,484
Dividends (including dividend equivalents):
Dividends paid per share (USD per share)		$ 1.546	$ 1.404
Beginning balance, stockholders' equity at Mar. 29, 2020	1,674,541			0	160,939	60,614	1,153,130	1,404,453			(742,164)	(365,741)	3,310
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to The Hershey Company	268,901							268,901
Net gain (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(859)												(859)
Net income including noncontrolling interest	268,042
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(1,419)											(1,452)	33
Dividends (including dividend equivalents):
Common Stock		$ (114,260)	$ (42,551)						(114,260)	(42,551)
Stock-based compensation	12,612						12,612
Exercise of stock options and incentive-based transactions	1,144						(3,864)				5,008
Repurchase of common stock	(42,020)										(42,020)
Ending balance, stockholders' equity at Jun. 28, 2020	1,756,089			0	160,939	60,614	1,161,878	1,516,543			(779,176)	(367,193)	2,484
Dividends (including dividend equivalents):
Dividends paid per share (USD per share)		$ 0.773	$ 0.702
Beginning balance, stockholders' equity at Dec. 31, 2020	2,237,883			0	160,939	60,614	1,191,200	1,928,673			(768,992)	(338,082)	3,531
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to The Hershey Company	697,029							697,029
Net gain (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,072												1,072
Net income including noncontrolling interest	698,101
Other comprehensive (loss) income	47,200											41,946	5,254
Dividends (including dividend equivalents):
Common Stock		$ (235,280)	$ (88,617)						(235,280)	(88,617)
Stock-based compensation	33,076						33,076
Exercise of stock options and incentive-based transactions	16,889						(5,568)				22,457
Repurchase of common stock	(434,346)										(434,346)
Divestiture of noncontrolling interest	(1,013)												(1,013)
Ending balance, stockholders' equity at Jul. 04, 2021	2,273,893			0	160,939	60,614	1,218,708	2,301,805			(1,180,881)	(296,136)	8,844
Dividends (including dividend equivalents):
Dividends paid per share (USD per share)		$ 1.608	$ 1.462
Beginning balance, stockholders' equity at Apr. 04, 2021	2,264,846			0	160,939	60,614	1,195,748	2,162,464			(994,765)	(329,006)	8,852
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to The Hershey Company	301,230							301,230
Net gain (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0												0
Net income including noncontrolling interest	301,230
Other comprehensive (loss) income	32,862											32,870	(8)
Dividends (including dividend equivalents):
Common Stock		$ (117,581)	$ (44,308)						$ (117,581)	$ (44,308)
Stock-based compensation	17,121						17,121
Exercise of stock options and incentive-based transactions	13,710						5,839				7,871
Repurchase of common stock	(193,987)										(193,987)
Ending balance, stockholders' equity at Jul. 04, 2021	$ 2,273,893			$ 0	$ 160,939	$ 60,614	$ 1,218,708	$ 2,301,805			$ (1,180,881)	$ (296,136)	$ 8,844
Dividends (including dividend equivalents):
Dividends paid per share (USD per share)		$ 0.804	$ 0.731