<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-12-029309.txt : 20121101
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-12-029309.hdr.sgml : 20121101
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20121101111836
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-12-029309
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20121031
FILED AS OF DATE:		20121101
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20121101

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Alfonso Humberto P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001406985

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00183
		FILM NUMBER:		121172599

	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>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-10-31</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001406985</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Alfonso Humberto P</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>EVP CFO &amp; Chief Admin Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-10-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>68.532</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40953</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Humberto P. Alfonso</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-11-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>doc1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY (PUBLIC): POA
<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/Humberto (Bert) P. Alfonso, Principal
July 31, 2012


KNOW ALL MEN by these presents, that the undersigned, hereby
constitutes and appoints Leslie M. Turner, Susan M. Angele and
Steven J. Holsinger 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 The Hershey Company 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 The Hershey Company 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/Humberto (Bert) P. Alfonso
July 31, 2012


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I, Leslie M. Turner, 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/Leslie M. Turner
August 9, 2012


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I, Susan M. Angele, 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/Susan M. Angele
August 9, 2012


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
August 13, 2012


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
