SEGMENT REPORTING - Operating Profit (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jul. 24, 2016 USD ($)	Jul. 30, 2017 USD ($) segment	Jul. 24, 2016 USD ($)
Operating profit and other financial information
Number of reportable business segments | segment			5
Sales	$ 2,207,375	$ 2,302,376	$ 6,674,911	$ 6,895,283
Segment Operating Profit	279,705	274,790	951,099	958,145
Net interest and investment expense	1,681	673	2,463	5,663
General corporate expense	2,865	2,922	13,308	32,111
Less: Noncontrolling interest	43	122	159	215
EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES	278,024	274,117	948,636	952,482
Intersegment sales
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales	30,494	29,577	90,141	96,256
Operating segment
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales	2,207,375	2,302,376	6,674,911	6,895,283
Segment Operating Profit	282,527	277,590	964,248	990,041
Intersegment elimination
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales	(30,494)	(29,577)	(90,141)	(96,256)
Grocery Products
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales	421,986	399,342	1,271,936	1,193,032
Grocery Products | Operating segment
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales	421,986	399,342	1,271,936	1,193,032
Segment Operating Profit	58,780	53,344	201,894	185,727
Refrigerated Foods
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales	1,086,546	1,155,297	3,237,071	3,409,897
Refrigerated Foods | Intersegment sales
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales	1,223	1,648	5,039	7,635
Refrigerated Foods | Operating segment
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales	1,087,769	1,156,945	3,242,110	3,417,532
Segment Operating Profit	138,314	120,702	442,316	417,612
Jennie-O Turkey Store
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales	369,078	403,953	1,178,304	1,199,559
Jennie-O Turkey Store | Intersegment sales
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales	29,264	27,921	85,080	88,604
Jennie-O Turkey Store | Operating segment
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales	398,342	431,874	1,263,384	1,288,163
Segment Operating Profit	44,986	56,147	176,952	237,128
Specialty Foods
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales	196,873	212,197	597,716	722,460
Specialty Foods | Intersegment sales
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales	7	8	22	17
Specialty Foods | Operating segment
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales	196,880	212,205	597,738	722,477
Segment Operating Profit	23,336	27,089	80,895	90,735
International & Other
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales	132,892	131,587	389,884	370,335
International & Other | Operating segment
Operating profit and other financial information
Sales	132,892	131,587	389,884	370,335
Segment Operating Profit	$ 17,111	$ 20,308	$ 62,191	$ 58,839