CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Jul. 28, 2019	Jul. 29, 2018	[1]	Jul. 28, 2019	Jul. 29, 2018	[1]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 2,290,705	$ 2,359,142		$ 6,995,804	$ 7,021,003
Cost of Products Sold	1,857,263	1,904,096		5,604,879	5,574,858
Gross Profit	433,442	455,046		1,390,925	1,446,145
Selling, General and Administrative	180,169	211,497		543,789	635,918
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates	3,384	13,141		28,133	50,158
Operating Income	256,657	256,690		875,269	860,385
Other Income and Expense:
Interest and Investment Income	7,556	9,477		25,727	19,560
Interest Expense	(3,213)	(8,435)		(14,975)	(20,165)
Earnings Before Income Taxes	261,000	257,732		886,021	859,780
Provision for Income Taxes	61,573	47,379		162,439	108,694
Net Earnings	199,427	210,353		723,582	751,086
Less: Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(22)	110		279	352
Net Earnings Attributable to Hormel Foods Corporation	$ 199,449	$ 210,243		$ 723,303	$ 750,734
Net Earnings Per Share
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.40		$ 1.35	$ 1.42
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.39		$ 1.33	$ 1.38
Weighted-average Shares Outstanding
Basic (in shares)	534,188	530,606		534,721	529,953
Diluted (in shares)	543,678	543,762		545,709	543,352

[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.