CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 26, 2014	Oct. 27, 2013
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 639,844	$ 434,014
Accounts receivable	505,024	551,500
Inventories	924,500	967,977
Deferred income taxes	73,543	73,543
Prepaid expenses	13,888	13,000
Other current assets	10,034	7,379
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS	2,166,833	2,047,413
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES	23,323	25,086
GOODWILL	962,102	934,472
OTHER INTANGIBLES	378,361	378,093
PENSION ASSETS	166,494	162,535
INVESTMENTS IN AND RECEIVABLES FROM AFFILIATES	258,128	270,609
OTHER ASSETS	144,408	142,339
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Land	61,516	58,506
Buildings	783,098	784,133
Equipment	1,546,306	1,532,527
Construction in progress	104,612	85,696
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	2,495,532	2,460,862
Less allowance for depreciation	(1,528,011)	(1,505,529)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	967,521	955,333
TOTAL ASSETS	5,067,170	4,915,880
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	354,832	387,284
Accrued expenses	45,757	20,965
Accrued workers compensation	40,190	38,217
Accrued marketing expenses	117,563	91,332
Employee related expenses	142,902	192,063
Taxes payable	67,361	8,637
Interest and dividends payable	55,920	45,511
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES	824,525	784,009
PENSION AND POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS	483,449	481,230
LONG-TERM DEBT-less current maturities	250,000	250,000
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES	84,765	84,062
SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT
Preferred stock, par value $.01 a share-authorized 160,000,000 shares; issued-none
Additional paid-in capital	7,794
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(150,986)	(149,214)
Retained earnings	3,553,213	3,452,529
HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT	3,417,754	3,311,040
NONCONTROLLING INTEREST	6,677	5,539
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT	3,424,431	3,316,579
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT	5,067,170	4,915,880
Common stock, non-voting
SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT
Common stock
Common stock
SHAREHOLDERS' INVESTMENT
Common stock	$ 7,733	$ 7,725