EQUITY AND NONCONTROLLING INTEREST - EQUITY AND NONCONTROLLING INTEREST NARRATIVE (Details)		12 Months Ended
	Feb. 13, 2023 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2025 USD ($) vote $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2023 shares	Dec. 04, 2023 USD ($)	May 31, 2021 USD ($)	Jul. 24, 2018 USD ($)
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common and preferred shares authorized (shares)		1,055,000,000
Preferred stock, shares authorized (shares)		5,000,000
Preferred stock, par (USD per share) | $ / shares		$ 1
Dividends, common stock, cash, additional percentage over Class B common stock dividends		10.00%
Treasury stock, value, excise tax | $		$ 0	$ 4,700,000
Common stock, shares, outstanding (shares)		202,839,656	202,383,069	204,392,926
2018 Share Repurchase Program
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Share Repurchase Program, Authorized, Amount | $							$ 500,000,000
2021 Share Repurchase Program
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Share Repurchase Program, Authorized, Amount | $						$ 500,000,000
2023 Share Repurchase Program
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Share Repurchase Program, Authorized, Amount | $					$ 500,000,000
Share Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized, Amount | $		$ 470,000,000
Common stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)		900,000,000
Common stock, par (USD per share) | $ / shares		$ 1
Common stock, voting rights (vote) | vote		1
Common stock voting rights, board election percentage		16.66%
Stock repurchases (shares)		0	2,022,064	0
Common stock | Hershey Trust Company
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares, outstanding (shares)		2,105,763
Class B common stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)		150,000,000
Common stock, voting rights (vote) | vote		10
Conversion of stock (shares)		0		3,500,000
Class B common stock | Hershey Trust Company
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares, outstanding (shares)		54,612,012
Common stock, voting percentage		79.00%
Hershey Trust Company
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Stock repurchased during period, value | $	$ 239,910,000
Stock repurchases (shares)	1,000,000
Treasury stock acquired, average cost per share (USD per share) | $ / shares	$ 239.91