<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>144</submissionType>
    <filerInfo>
      <filer>
        <filerCredentials>
          <cik>0000938543</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </filerCredentials>
      </filer>
      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <issuerInfo>
      <issuerCik>0000047111</issuerCik>
      <issuerName>HERSHEY CO</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-00183</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>19 EAST CHOCOLATE AVENUE</com:street1>
        <com:street2>EXTERNAL RPTG &amp; COMPLIANCE</com:street2>
        <com:city>HERSHEY</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>PA</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>17033</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>7175344200</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>10% Stockholder</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Northern Trust Securities, Inc.</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>50 S. LaSalle Street</com:street1>
          <com:city>Chicago</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>IL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>60603</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>2000000</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>439764000.00</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>148171608</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>03/16/2026</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>11/13/1933</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Gift</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Milton S. Hershey</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>2000000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>11/13/1933</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Gift</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>03/16/2026</noticeDate>
      <planAdoptionDates>
        <planAdoptionDate>02/06/2026</planAdoptionDate>
      </planAdoptionDates>
      <signature>/s/ Josh Shannon</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
