content: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
      <submissionType>144</submissionType>
      <filerInfo>
        <filer>
          <filerCredentials>
            <cik>0001323734</cik>
            <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
          </filerCredentials>
        </filer>
        <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>
  
  
  
      </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCik>0000047111</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HERSHEY CO</issuerName>
        <secFileNumber>001-00183</secFileNumber>
        <issuerAddress>
          <com:street1>19 EAST CHOCOLATE AVENUE</com:street1>
          <com:street2>EXTERNAL RPTG &amp; COMPLIANCE</com:street2>
          <com:city>HERSHEY</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>PA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>17033</com:zipCode>
        </issuerAddress>
        <issuerContactPhone>7175344200</issuerContactPhone>
        <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Buck Michele</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
        <relationshipsToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
          <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
        </relationshipsToIssuer>
      </issuerInfo>
      <securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
          <name>Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>900 Salem Street</com:street1>
            <com:city>Smithfield</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>RI</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>02917</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <noOfUnitsSold>19290</noOfUnitsSold>
        <aggregateMarketValue>3375750.00</aggregateMarketValue>
        <noOfUnitsOutstanding>147990276</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
        <approxSaleDate>07/01/2025</approxSaleDate>
        <securitiesExchangeName>NYSE</securitiesExchangeName>
      </securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <acquiredDate>07/01/2025</acquiredDate>
        <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Option Granted - 03/01/2017</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
        <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
        <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
        <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>19290</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
        <paymentDate>07/01/2025</paymentDate>
        <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
      </securitiesToBeSold>
      <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <sellerDetails>
          <name>Michele G. Buck</name>
          <address>
            <com:street1>19 East Chocolate Avenue</com:street1>
            <com:city>Hershey</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>PA</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>17033</com:zipCode>
          </address>
        </sellerDetails>
        <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
        <saleDate>05/30/2025</saleDate>
        <amountOfSecuritiesSold>31210</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
        <grossProceeds>5018568.00</grossProceeds>
      </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <noticeSignature>
        <noticeDate>07/01/2025</noticeDate>
        <planAdoptionDates>
          <planAdoptionDate>02/27/2025</planAdoptionDate>
        </planAdoptionDates>
        <signature>/s/ Jennifer Ruchti, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Michele G. Buck</signature>
      </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
  </edgarSubmission>
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text: 144
  0001323734
  XXXXXXXX
  LIVE
  0000047111
  HERSHEY CO
  001-00183
  19 EAST CHOCOLATE AVENUE
  EXTERNAL RPTG & COMPLIANCE
  HERSHEY
  PA
  17033
  7175344200
  Buck Michele
  Officer
  Director
  Common
  Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
  900 Salem Street
  Smithfield
  RI
  02917
  19290
  3375750.00
  147990276
  07/01/2025
  NYSE
  Common
  07/01/2025
  Option Granted - 03/01/2017
  Issuer
  N
  19290
  07/01/2025
  Cash
  N
  Michele G. Buck
  19 East Chocolate Avenue
  Hershey
  PA
  17033
  Common
  05/30/2025
  31210
  5018568.00
  07/01/2025
  02/27/2025
  /s/ Jennifer Ruchti, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Michele G. Buck