<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-12-010385.txt : 20120312
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-12-010385.hdr.sgml : 20120310
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120312151731
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-12-010385
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120309
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120312
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120312

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Wege D Michael
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001530640

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00183
		FILM NUMBER:		12683756

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE HERSHEY COMPANY
		STREET 2:		100 CRYSTAL A DRIVE
		CITY:			HERSHEY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17033

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:		7175344200

	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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-03-09</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001530640</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Wege D Michael</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 CRYSTAL A DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HERSHEY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>17033</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Chief Commercial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-03-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>153</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>59.49</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>31372</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>795.0901</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The total amount of securities reported as indirectly owned by the reporting person represents a reduction of 1.4369 shares allocated to the reporting person's account in the Company's 401(k) Plan as of March 5, 2012.  To manage liquidity needs of the 401(k) Plan, the Plan trustee from time-to-time maintains a lower overall share balance (versus cash) in the 401(k) Plan, which in this instance resulted in a reduction in the number of shares allocated to the reporting person's account when compared to the reporting person's Form 4 filed on March 5, 2012.  The information is based on a report dated March 5, 2012, provided by the Plan trustee.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Steven J. Holsinger, Attorney-in-Fact for D. Michael Wege</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-03-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
