-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000047111-07-000107.txt : 20070425
<SEC-HEADER>0000047111-07-000107.hdr.sgml : 20070425
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070425153323
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000047111-07-000107
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070423
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070425
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070425

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HERSHEY CO
		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 FOODS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HERSHEY CHOCOLATE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19680401

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TACKA DAVID W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001050092
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SUGAR & CONFECTIONERY PRODUCTS [2060]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00183
		FILM NUMBER:		07787465

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 810
		STREET 2:		100 CRYSTAL A DIRVE
		CITY:			HERSHEY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17033-0810
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-04-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000047111</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HERSHEY CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HSY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001050092</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TACKA DAVID W</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, CAO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>54.68</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-04-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-04-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10750</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">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>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Bonnie S. Martin, as Attorney-in-Fact  For: David W. Tacka</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-04-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>tackapoa.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EDGAR SUPPORTING DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
POWER OF ATTORNEY

NOTICE

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.

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.

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.

YOUR AGENT MUST KEEP YOUR FUNDS SEPARATE FROM YOUR AGENT'S FUNDS.

A COURT CAN TAKE AWAY THE POWERS OF YOUR AGENT IF IT FINDS YOUR
AGENT IS NOT ACTING PROPERLY.

THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF AN AGENT UNDER A POWER OF ATTORNEY ARE
EXPLAINED MORE FULLY IN 20 PA.C.S. CH. 56.

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.

I HAVE READ OR HAD EXPLAINED TO ME THIS NOTICE AND I UNDERSTAND
ITS CONTENTS.


/s/ David Tacka, Principal
January 15, 2004



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:

(1)  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;

(2)  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;

(3)  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

(4)  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.

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.

This power of attorney shall remain in full force and effect until
such time as the undersigned terminates it in writing.

/s/ David Tacka, Principal
January 15, 2004



ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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:

I shall exercise the powers for the benefit of the principal.

I shall keep the assets of the principal separate from my assets.

I shall exercise reasonable caution and prudence.

I shall keep a full and accurate record of all actions, receipts
and disbursements on behalf the principal.


/s/ Burton H. Snyder
January 23, 2004



ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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:

I shall exercise the powers for the benefit of the principal.

I shall keep the assets of the principal separate from my assets.

I shall exercise reasonable caution and prudence.

I shall keep a full and accurate record of all actions, receipts
and disbursements on behalf the principal.


/s/ Steven J. Holsinger
January 23, 2004



ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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:

I shall exercise the powers for the benefit of the principal.

I shall keep the assets of the principal separate from my assets.

I shall exercise reasonable caution and prudence.

I shall keep a full and accurate record of all actions, receipts
and disbursements on behalf the principal.


/s/ Bonnie S. Martin
January 23, 2004
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
