<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION 2ND QUARTER 10-Q </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000048465 <NAME> HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. Dollars <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-30-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAY-01-1999 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> $193,273 <SECURITIES> 49,033 <RECEIVABLES> 199,516 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 257,589 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 723,809 <PP&E> 961,039 <DEPRECIATION> (475,112) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,588,208 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 257,883 <BONDS> 218,839 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 8,540 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,588,208 <SALES> 1,590,100 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,590,100 <CGS> 1,121,312 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,121,312 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,616 <INCOME-PRETAX> 114,199 <INCOME-TAX> 39,985 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 74,214 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 74,214 <EPS-BASIC> 1.01 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.00