Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 24, 2016	Apr. 26, 2015	Apr. 24, 2016	Apr. 26, 2015
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Net sales	$ 2,300,235	$ 2,279,345	$ 4,592,907	$ 4,674,418
Cost of products sold	1,773,876	1,819,789	3,508,537	3,770,257
GROSS PROFIT	526,359	459,556	1,084,370	904,161
Selling, general and administrative	211,144	189,733	421,092	370,032
Goodwill impairment charge	991		991
Equity in earnings of affiliates	9,593	7,874	21,068	9,534
OPERATING INCOME	323,817	277,697	683,355	543,663
Other income and expense:
Interest and investment income (loss)	3,409	1,117	1,446	2,266
Interest expense	(3,029)	(3,083)	(6,436)	(6,161)
EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES	324,197	275,731	678,365	539,768
Provision for income taxes	108,813	95,296	227,814	186,903
NET EARNINGS	215,384	180,435	450,551	352,865
Less: Net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	(13)	234	93	946
NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION	$ 215,397	$ 180,201	$ 450,458	$ 351,919
NET EARNINGS PER SHARE:
BASIC (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 0.34	$ 0.85	$ 0.67
DILUTED (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.33	$ 0.83	$ 0.65
WEIGHTED-AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
BASIC (in shares)	529,898	528,056	529,380	527,704
DILUTED (in shares)	543,769	540,888	543,253	540,505
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE: (in dollars per share)	$ 0.145	$ 0.125	$ 0.290	$ 0.250