XML 51 R44.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details 3) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Oct. 26, 2014
Oct. 27, 2013
Oct. 28, 2012
Nov. 22, 2010
Oct. 31, 2010
Jan. 29, 2013
May 24, 2010
Goodwill and Other Intangibles              
Goodwill impairment charges $ 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss $ 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss $ 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss        
Indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment charges 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill        
Impairment of Long-lived Assets              
Long-lived assets impairment charges 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfLongLivedAssetsHeldForUse        
Advertising Expenses              
Advertising costs 114.4us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense 89.9us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense 103.4us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense        
Research and Development Expenses              
Research and development expense $ 29.9us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense $ 29.9us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense $ 29.8us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense        
Common stock              
Shares Repurchases              
Number of shares authorized to be repurchased (in shares)           10,000,000us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
 
Average price of shares repurchased under new authorization,(in dollars per share) $ 46.87hrl_TreasuryStockAcquiredUnderNewAuthorizationAverageCostPerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
$ 42.54hrl_TreasuryStockAcquiredUnderNewAuthorizationAverageCostPerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
         
Authorized stock split ratio       2us-gaap_StockholdersEquityNoteStockSplitConversionRatio1
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
     
Stock repurchased under new authorization (in shares) 1,300,000hrl_TreasuryStockSharesAcquiredUnderNewAuthorization
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
600,000hrl_TreasuryStockSharesAcquiredUnderNewAuthorization
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
         
Before stock split | Common stock              
Shares Repurchases              
Number of shares authorized to be repurchased (in shares)             5,000,000us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= hrl_BeforeStockSplitMember
Stock repurchased (in shares)         600,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= hrl_BeforeStockSplitMember
   
Average price of shares repurchased (in dollars per share)         $ 42.86us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= hrl_BeforeStockSplitMember
   
After stock split | Common stock              
Shares Repurchases              
Stock repurchased (in shares)   1,200,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= hrl_AfterStockSplitMember
2,100,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= hrl_AfterStockSplitMember
       
Average price of shares repurchased (in dollars per share)   $ 39.67us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= hrl_AfterStockSplitMember
$ 28.65us-gaap_TreasuryStockAcquiredAverageCostPerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= hrl_AfterStockSplitMember
       
Minimum              
Equity Method Investments              
Ownership percentage 20.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
           
Maximum              
Equity Method Investments              
Ownership percentage 50.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
           
Buildings | Minimum              
Property, plant and equipment              
Estimated useful life 20 years            
Buildings | Maximum              
Property, plant and equipment              
Estimated useful life 40 years            
Machinery and equipment | Minimum              
Property, plant and equipment              
Estimated useful life 5 years            
Machinery and equipment | Maximum              
Property, plant and equipment              
Estimated useful life 10 years