<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000938543-19-000010.txt : 20190523
<SEC-HEADER>0000938543-19-000010.hdr.sgml : 20190523
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20190523082850
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000938543-19-000010
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20190521
FILED AS OF DATE:		20190523
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20190523

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000938543

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00183
		FILM NUMBER:		19848008

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 MANSION ROAD EAST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 445
		CITY:			HERSHEY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17033

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 MANSION ROAD EAST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 445
		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:		19 EAST CHOCOLATE AVENUE
		STREET 2:		EXTERNAL RPTG & COMPLIANCE
		CITY:			HERSHEY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17033
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7175344200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		19 EAST CHOCOLATE AVENUE
		STREET 2:		EXTERNAL RPTG & COMPLIANCE
		CITY:			HERSHEY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17033

	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>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-05-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000938543</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HERSHEY TRUST CO TRUSTEE IN TRUST FOR MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 MANSION ROAD EAST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P O BOX 445</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HERSHEY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>17033</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1.00 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-05-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>236780</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>130.0061</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>47170</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1.00 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>102330</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Hershey Trust Company</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock, $1.00 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>130.31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $1.00 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>60612012</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60612012</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Plan adopted by the reporting person on November 29, 2018.  Accordingly, the reporting person had no discretion with regard to the timing of the transactions.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  The shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $129.25 to $130.58, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide to the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to any security holder of The Hershey Company, or to The Hershey Company, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth above.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Hershey Trust Company is wholly owned by the Milton Hershey School Trust and is trustee for the Milton Hershey School Trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">All shares of Class B common stock, $1.00 par value, are convertible share-for-share into common stock, $1.00 par value, at any time, and without payment other than for the fact of conversion.  There is no expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Conversion price is the current market price ($130.31 represents the closing price on 5/21/2019).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Matthew Jacolik</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-05-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
