Central Garden & Pet Files New Universal Shelf Registration Statement.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT)(NASDAQ: CENTA), today announced that it is has filed a new universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This shelf registration statement supersedes the prior registration statement which expired in November, 2008.

The shelf registration statement permits Central Garden & Pet, from time to time, to sell, in one or more public offerings, shares of its common stock, Class A common stock, shares of its preferred stock, warrants to purchase its common stock or preferred stock, debt securities, or any combination of such securities. The terms of any such future offerings would be established at the time of the offering. Proceeds from the sale of any securities under the shelf registration will be used for the purposes described in the prospectus or a prospectus supplement. Central Garden & Pet does not have any current commitments to raise capital under this registration statement.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

Central Garden & Pet Company is a leading innovator, marketer and producer of quality branded products for the lawn & garden and pet supplies markets. Committed to new product innovation, our products are sold to specialty independent and mass retailers. Participating categories in Lawn & Garden include: Grass seed including the brands PENNINGTON[R], SMART SEED(TM) and THE REBELS[TM]; wild bird feed and the brands PENNINGTON[R] and KAYTEE[R]; weed and insect control and the brands AMDRO[R], SEVIN[R], IRONITE[R] and Over 'N Out[R]; and decorative outdoor patio products and the brands NORCAL[R], NEW ENGLAND POTTERY[R] and MATTHEWS FOUR SEASONS[TM]. We also provide a host of other regional and application-specific garden brands and supplies. Participating categories in Pet include: Animal health and the brands ADAMS[TM] and ZODIAC[R]; aquatics and reptile and the brands OCEANIC[R], AQUEON[R] and ZILLA[R]; bird & small animal and the brands KAYTEE[R], SUPER PET[R] and CRITTER TRAIL[R]; dog & cat and the brands TFH[TM], NYLABONE[R], FOUR PAWS[R], PINNACLE[R] and Avoderm[R]; and equine and the brands FARNAM[R], BRONCO[R] and SUPER MASK[R]. We also provide a host of other application-specific Pet brands and supplies. Central Garden & Pet Company is based in Walnut Creek, California, and has approximately 5,000 employees, primarily in North America and Europe. For additional information on Central Garden & Pet Company, including access to the Company's SEC filings, please visit the Company's website at www.central.com.