Current Report on Form 8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                             April 22, 2004                                   
Date of Report   (Date of earliest event reported)


      Hershey Foods Corporation      
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                Delaware                                 
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

                     1-183                    
(Commission File Number)		                   23-0691590                  
(IRS Employer Identification No.)


    100 Crystal A Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033    
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)    (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (717)  534-6799



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Exhibit Index - Page 3

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT

Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

      (c)       Exhibits

          99.1    Press Release dated April 22, 2004

        

Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure

Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

        On April 22, 2004, Hershey Foods Corporation (the “Corporation”) issued a press release announcing sales and earnings for the first quarter of 2004 and also announced a two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a 100 percent stock dividend to stockholders of record May 25, 2004. A copy of the Corporation’s press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

        The information in this Current Report, including the exhibit, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that Section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

 

SIGNATURE

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: April 22, 2004

                 HERSHEY FOODS CORPORATION

By:     /s/Frank Cerminara   
Frank Cerminara
         Senior Vice President,
          Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

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Exhibit Index - Page 3

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No. Description

99.1 Hershey Foods Corporation Press Release dated April 22, 2004.

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Exhibit Index – Page 3