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 *
  Buck Michele
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
12/10/2007		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
HERSHEY CO [HSY]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
THE HERSHEY COMPANY, 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, Global Chief Mktg 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 3,226.348
D
 
Common Stock 139.757
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) 04/18/2015 Common Stock 16,900 $ 61 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)   (1) 02/15/2016 Common Stock 19,950 $ 52.3 D  
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)   (1) 04/22/2017 Common Stock 20,900 $ 54.68 D  
Restricted Stock Units   (2)   (2) Common Stock 11,766 $ (3) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Buck Michele
THE HERSHEY COMPANY
100 CRYSTAL A DRIVE
HERSHEY, PA 17033		       SVP, Global Chief Mktg Officer  

Signatures

Michele G. Buck 12/18/2007
**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 grant date, an additional 25% vest on the second anniversary of the grant date, an additional 25% vest on the third anniversary of the grant date, and the options become fully vested on the fourth anniversary of the grant date.
(2) The total amount of Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") were granted and will vest as follows: (1) 14,725 RSUs were granted on April 9, 2005 of which 4,567 units vested on 2/1/2006, 8,492 units vested on 2/1/2007, and the remaining 1,666 units vest on 2/1/2008; (2) 2,500 RSUs were granted on January 8, 2007 of which 625 units vest on 2/8/2008, 625 units vest on 1/8/2009, 625 units vest on 1/8/2010, and the remaining 625 units vest on 1/8/2011; and (3) 7,600 RSUs were granted on May 1, 2007 of which 2,508 units vest on 5/1/2008, 2,508 units vest on 5/1/2009, and the final 2,584 units vest on 5/1/2010.
(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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