CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 29, 2018	Jul. 30, 2017	Jul. 29, 2018	Jul. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,359,142	$ 2,207,375	$ 7,021,003	$ 6,674,911
Cost of products sold	1,899,970	1,754,966	5,562,966	5,183,302
GROSS PROFIT	459,172	452,409	1,458,037	1,491,609
Selling, general and administrative	210,747	176,660	633,668	567,886
Equity in earnings of affiliates	13,141	3,956	50,158	27,376
OPERATING INCOME	261,566	279,705	874,527	951,099
Other income and expense:
Interest and investment income	4,601	1,376	5,418	6,643
Interest expense	(8,435)	(3,057)	(20,165)	(9,106)
EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES	257,732	278,024	859,780	948,636
Provision for income taxes	47,379	95,473	108,694	319,896
NET EARNINGS	210,353	182,551	751,086	628,740
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	110	43	352	159
NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION	$ 210,243	$ 182,508	$ 750,734	$ 628,581
NET EARNINGS PER SHARE:
BASIC (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.35	$ 1.42	$ 1.19
DILUTED (in dollars per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.34	$ 1.38	$ 1.17
WEIGHTED-AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
BASIC (in shares)	530,606	528,165	529,953	528,487
DILUTED (in shares)	543,762	538,814	543,352	539,504
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0.1875	$ 0.17	$ 0.5625	$ 0.51