CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Apr. 28, 2019	Apr. 29, 2018	[1]	Apr. 28, 2019	Apr. 29, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 2,344,744	$ 2,330,568		$ 4,705,099	$ 4,661,861
Cost of Products Sold	1,875,595	1,837,765		3,747,616	3,670,762
Gross Profit	469,149	492,803		957,483	991,099
Selling, General and Administrative	170,076	204,549		363,620	424,421
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates	13,291	13,486		24,749	37,017
Operating Income	312,364	301,740		618,612	603,695
Other Income and Expense:
Interest and Investment Income	11,297	2,144		18,171	10,083
Interest Expense	(5,615)	(7,001)		(11,762)	(11,730)
Earnings Before Income Taxes	318,046	296,883		625,021	602,048
Provision for Income Taxes	35,410	59,361		100,866	61,315
Net Earnings	282,636	237,522		524,155	540,733
Less: Net Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	207	138		301	242
Net Earnings Attributable to Hormel Foods Corporation	$ 282,429	$ 237,384		$ 523,854	$ 540,491
Net Earnings Per Share
BASIC (in dollars per share)	$ 0.53	$ 0.45		$ 0.98	$ 1.02
DILUTED (in dollars per share)	$ 0.52	$ 0.44		$ 0.96	$ 1.00
Weighted-average Shares Outstanding
BASIC (in shares)	535,480	529,799		534,988	529,626
DILUTED (in shares)	546,330	542,811		546,724	543,146

[1] Adjusted due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits: Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (Topic 715). See Note A - General.