CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 28, 2013	Oct. 28, 2012
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 262,748	$ 682,388
Short-term marketable securities		77,387
Accounts receivable	462,239	507,041
Inventories	998,931	950,521
Income taxes receivable	17,181	16,460
Deferred income taxes	71,284	68,560
Prepaid expenses	12,037	12,772
Other current assets	7,920	5,555
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS	1,832,340	2,320,684
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES	137,618	144,245
GOODWILL	932,114	630,875
OTHER INTANGIBLES	382,816	123,072
PENSION ASSETS	49	49
INVESTMENTS IN AND RECEIVABLES FROM AFFILIATES	284,043	286,537
OTHER ASSETS	140,902	134,024
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Land	57,611	56,258
Buildings	780,877	767,876
Equipment	1,501,230	1,435,630
Construction in progress	83,331	82,254
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	2,423,049	2,342,018
Less allowance for depreciation	(1,465,290)	(1,417,538)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	957,759	924,480
TOTAL ASSETS	4,667,641	4,563,966
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	315,040	385,877
Accrued expenses	42,871	49,792
Accrued workers compensation	35,991	33,543
Accrued marketing expenses	99,535	78,712
Employee related expenses	161,975	193,463
Taxes payable	6,881	4,864
Interest and dividends payable	45,601	40,049
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES	707,894	786,300
PENSION AND POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS	612,451	615,428
LONG-TERM DEBT-less current maturities	250,000	250,000
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES	79,464	87,313
SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT
Preferred stock, par value $.01 a share-authorized 160,000,000 shares; issued-none
Additional paid-in capital	26,671
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(325,172)	(323,569)
Retained earnings	3,300,597	3,135,317
HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT	3,009,859	2,819,455
NONCONTROLLING INTEREST	7,973	5,470
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT	3,017,832	2,824,925
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT	4,667,641	4,563,966
Common stock, non-voting
SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT
Common stock
Common stock
SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT
Common stock	$ 7,763	$ 7,707