Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Wege D Michael
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
09/13/2011
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
HERSHEY CO [HSY]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
100 CRYSTAL A DRIVE
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
SVP Chief Commercial Officer
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

HERSHEY, PA 17033
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 28,253
D
 
Common Stock 790.646
I
401(k) Plan

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)   (1) 02/14/2015 Common Stock 4,550 $ 61.7 D  
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)   (1) 02/15/2016 Common Stock 6,050 $ 52.3 D  
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)   (1) 04/22/2017 Common Stock 8,550 $ 54.68 D  
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)   (1) 02/12/2018 Common Stock 16,440 $ 35.87 D  
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)   (1) 02/16/2019 Common Stock 22,830 $ 34.89 D  
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)   (1) 02/22/2020 Common Stock 20,495 $ 39.26 D  
Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)   (1) 02/21/2021 Common Stock 20,505 $ 51.42 D  
Restricted Stock Units   (2)   (2) Common Stock 875 $ 0 (3) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Wege D Michael
100 CRYSTAL A DRIVE
HERSHEY, PA 17033
      SVP Chief Commercial Officer  

Signatures

D. Michael Wege 09/23/2011
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Options vest according to the following schedule: 25% vest on the first anniversary of the award date, an additional 25% vest on the second anniversary of the award date, an additional 25% vest on the third anniversary of the award date, and the options become fully vested on the fourth anniversary of the award date.
(2) Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") were granted on July 7, 2008 of which 875 units vested on 8/7/2009, 875 units vested on 7/7/2010, 875 units vested on 7/7/2011 and the remaining 875 units from that grant will vest on 7/7/2012.
(3) Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Common Stock of The Hershey Company or its cash equivalent.

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