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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000047111-04-000082.txt : 20040218
<SEC-HEADER>0000047111-04-000082.hdr.sgml : 20040218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040218134318
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000047111-04-000082
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040218

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LENNY RICHARD H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001139497

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00183
		FILM NUMBER:		04612658

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 CRYSTAL A DR
		CITY:			HERSHEY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17033

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 CRYSTAL A DR
		CITY:			HERSHEY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17033

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HERSHEY FOODS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000047111
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SUGAR & CONFECTIONERY PRODUCTS [2060]
		IRS NUMBER:				230691590
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 CRYSTAL A DRIVE
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 810-EXTERNAL RPTG & COMPLIANCE
		CITY:			HERSHEY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17033-0810
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7175346799

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 810-EXTERNAL RPTG & COMPLIANCE
		STREET 2:		100 CRYSTAL A DRIVE
		CITY:			HERSHEY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17033-0810

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HERSHEY CHOCOLATE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19680401
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<SEQUENCE>1
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<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000047111</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HERSHEY FOODS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HSY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001139497</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LENNY RICHARD H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 CRYSTAL A DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HERSHEY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>17033</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>851</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>77.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>69865</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>851</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>77.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>69014</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>234.89</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Performance Share Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10532</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10532</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10532</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>78.89</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>96550</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>96550</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>96550</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The total amount of securities reported as directly owned by the reporting person in Column 5 of Table I includes 98.0000 shares acquired from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002; and 374.0000 shares from January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2003 pursuant to a Hershey Foods Dividend Reinvestment Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Settlement of Performance Stock Units (&quot;PSUs&quot;) granted on March 12, 2001, pursuant to the Hershey Foods Corporation Key Employee Incentive Plan. Settlement involved the deferral of the entire award, net of certain mandatory tax withholdings (851 shares), under the Corporation's Deferred Compensation Plan.  Each deferred PSU is deemed equivalent in value to one share of the Corporation's Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reporting person has elected to have these units paid out at retirement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Options vest according to the following schedule:  25% vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, an additional 25% vest on the second anniversary of the grant date, an additional 25% vest on the third anniversary of the grant date, and the options become fully vested on the fourth anniversary of the grant date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>The total amount of securities reported as indirectly owned by the reporting person in Column 5 of Table I (401(k) Plan) includes 107.1700 shares acquired from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002; and 87.0900 shares acquired from January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2003 pursuant to the Hershey Foods Corporation Employee Savings Stock Investment and Ownership Plan (ESSIOP).  These shares were acquired at various intervals, and the closing price on December 31, 2002 was $67.44 and the closing price on December 31, 2003 was $76.99.  The exact price of each share at the date of acquisition is not readily determinable.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Burton H. Snyder, as Attorney-in-Fact  For: Richard H. Lenny</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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<DESCRIPTION>EDGAR SUPPORTING DOCUMENT
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<TITLE>POWER OF ATTORNEY</TITLE>
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<B><U><P ALIGN="CENTER">POWER OF ATTORNEY</P>
</B></U><P ALIGN="CENTER">NOTICE</P>
<P>THE PURPOSE OF THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY IS TO GIVE THE PERSON YOU DESIGNATE (YOUR "AGENT") BROAD POWERS TO HANDLE YOUR PROPERTY, WHICH MAY INCLUDE POWERS TO SELL OR OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF ANY REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY WITHOUT ADVANCE NOTICE TO YOU OR APPROVAL BY YOU.<BR>
<BR>
THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY DOES NOT IMPOSE A DUTY ON YOUR AGENT TO EXERCISE GRANTED POWERS, BUT WHEN POWERS ARE EXERCISED, YOUR AGENT MUST USE DUE CARE TO ACT FOR YOUR BENEFIT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY.<BR>
<BR>
YOUR AGENT MAY EXERCISE THE POWERS GIVEN HERE THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFETIME, EVEN AFTER YOU BECOME INCAPACITATED, UNLESS YOU EXPRESSLY LIMIT THE DURATION OF THESE POWERS OR YOU REVOKE THESE POWERS OR A COURT ACTING ON YOUR BEHALF TERMINATES YOUR AGENT'S AUTHORITY.<BR>
<BR>
YOUR AGENT MUST KEEP YOUR FUNDS SEPARATE FROM YOUR AGENT'S FUNDS.<BR>
<BR>
A COURT CAN TAKE AWAY THE POWERS OF YOUR AGENT IF IT FINDS YOUR AGENT IS NOT ACTING PROPERLY.<BR>
<BR>
THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF AN AGENT UNDER A POWER OF ATTORNEY ARE EXPLAINED MORE FULLY IN 20 PA.C.S. CH. 56.<BR>
<BR>
IF THERE IS ANYTHING ABOUT THIS FORM THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND, YOU SHOULD ASK A LAWYER OF YOUR OWN CHOOSING TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU.<BR>
<BR>
I HAVE READ OR HAD EXPLAINED TO ME THIS NOTICE AND I UNDERSTAND ITS CONTENTS.</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>December 3, 2003&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;/s/ Richard H. Lenny, Principal</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<P>KNOW ALL MEN by these presents, that the undersigned, hereby constitutes and appoints Burton H. Snyder, Steven J. Holsinger and Bonnie S. Martin and each his true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:</P>
<P>&#9;(1)&#9;execute for and on behalf of the undersigned Forms 3, 4 and 5 relating to transactions in securities of Hershey Foods Corporation in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder;</P>
<P>&#9;(2)&#9;execute for and on behalf of the undersigned Form 144 relating to transactions in securities of Hershey Foods Corporation in accordance with Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules thereunder;</P>
<P>&#9;(3)&#9;do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete the execution of any such Forms 3, 4, 5 and 144 and the timely filing of such forms with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any other authority; and</P>
<P>&#9;(4)&#9;take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally required of, the undersigned, it being understood that the documents executed by each such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as each such attorney-in-fact may approve in his/her discretion.</P>
<P>The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary and proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each such attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney and the rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, each in serving in such capacity at the request of the undersigned, are not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933.</P>
<P>This power of attorney shall remain in full force and effect until such time as the undersigned terminates it in writing.</P>
<P>&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;</P>
<P>December 3, 2003&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;/s/ Richard H. Lenny, Principal</P>
<U><P>&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">ACKNOWLEDGEMENT</P>
</U><P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P>I, Burton H. Snyder, have read the Power of Attorney and am one of three persons identified as the agents for the principal. I hereby acknowledge that in the absence of a specific provision to the contrary in the power of attorney or in 20 Pa.C.S. when I act as agent:</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;I shall exercise the powers for the benefit of the principal.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;I shall keep the assets of the principal separate from my assets.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;I shall exercise reasonable caution and prudence.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;I shall keep a full and accurate record of all actions, receipts and disbursements on behalf the principal.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">December 3, 2003&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;/s/ Burton H. Snyder</P>
<U><P>&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="CENTER">ACKNOWLEDGEMENT</P>
</U><P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P>I, Steven J. Holsinger, have read the Power of Attorney and am one of three persons identified as the agents for the principal. I hereby acknowledge that in the absence of a specific provision to the contrary in the power of attorney or in 20 Pa.C.S. when I act as agent:</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;I shall exercise the powers for the benefit of the principal.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;I shall keep the assets of the principal separate from my assets.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;I shall exercise reasonable caution and prudence.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;I shall keep a full and accurate record of all actions, receipts and disbursements on behalf the principal.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">December 3, 2003&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;/s/ Steven J. Holsinger</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<U><P ALIGN="CENTER">ACKNOWLEDGEMENT</P>
</U><P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
<P>I, Bonnie S. Martin, have read the Power of Attorney and am one of three persons identified as the agents for the principal. I hereby acknowledge that in the absence of a specific provision to the contrary in the power of attorney or in 20 Pa.C.S. when I act as agent:</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;I shall exercise the powers for the benefit of the principal.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;I shall keep the assets of the principal separate from my assets.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;I shall exercise reasonable caution and prudence.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&#9;I shall keep a full and accurate record of all actions, receipts and disbursements on behalf the principal.</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;</P>
<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">December 3, 2003&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;&#9;/s/ Bonnie S. Martin</P></BODY>
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