CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 27, 2019	Oct. 28, 2018	[1]	Oct. 29, 2017	[1]
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 9,497,317	$ 9,545,700		$ 9,167,519
Cost of Products Sold	7,612,669	7,566,227		7,170,883
Gross Profit	1,884,648	1,979,473		1,996,636
Selling, General and Administrative	727,584	841,205		759,304
Goodwill/Intangible Impairment	0	17,279		180
Equity in Earnings of Affiliates	39,201	58,972		39,590
Operating Income	1,196,265	1,179,961		1,276,742
Other Income and Expense:
Interest and Investment Income	31,520	27,817		14,586
Interest Expense	(18,070)	(26,494)		(12,683)
Earnings Before Income Taxes	1,209,715	1,181,284		1,278,645
Provision for Income Taxes	230,567	168,702		431,542
Net Earnings	979,148	1,012,582		847,103
Less: Net Earnings Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	342	442		368
Net Earnings Attributable to Hormel Foods Corporation	$ 978,806	$ 1,012,140		$ 846,735
Net Earnings Per Share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.83	$ 1.91		$ 1.60
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.80	$ 1.86		$ 1.57
Weighted-average Shares Outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	534,578	530,742		528,363
Diluted (in shares)	545,232	543,869		539,116

[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 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.