Both Garden and Pet benefited from a combination
of strong growth and margin expansion from our existing brands.
Acquisitions completed after the first quarter of fiscal 2004 further
strengthened our results. Included in this guidance is the new impact of
expensing stock options.

hotspot softbills

centralgardenandpet. Four Paws was recognized in the Cat Category
for its "Kitty Kat Circus" and TFH Publications/Nylabone Products won
an award in the Gift Category for its new title, "Little Dogs --
Training Your Pint-Sized Companion. Our lawn and garden
products include grass seed, wild bird food, weed and insect control
products, decorative outdoor patio products and ant control products.

xpress perches

"We
systematically worked to strengthen our Company to deliver four
profitable quarters.12 $(0."

Central Garden + Pet Company is a leading innovator, marketer and
producer of quality branded products for the pet and lawn and garden
supplies markets.

birdie kookaburra

"Fiscal 2005 is off to a strong start," noted Glenn Novotny,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Central Garden and Pet.42 to $2.

Central Garden + Pet Company
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)


Three Months Ended
--------------------------
December 25, December 27,
2004 2003
------------- ------------

Net Sales $265,576 $222,350
Cost of Goods Sold and Occupancy 179,535 160,279
------------- ----- -------

Gross Profit 86,041 62,071

Selling, General and Administrative
Expenses 76,525 58,511
------------- ------------

Income from Operations 9,516 3,560

Interest Expense (5,298) (4,105)
Interest Income 103 199
Other Expense (320) (715)
------------- ------------

Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes 4,001 (1,061)

Income Taxes 1,485 (416)
------------- ------------

Net Income (Loss) $2,516 $(645)
============= ============

Basic Earnings Per Common Share: $0.

fingerprinting softbills

sexing doves

4 billion in sales and an earnings range of $2.centralgardenandpet.03)

Diluted Earnings Per Common Share: $0." This
beautiful new aquarium features an amazing 180 degrees of viewing as
well as superb maintenance with easy access to wet/dry filtration."
"Innovation is our competitive strength," concluded Mr. For additional information on Central Garden + Pet,
including access to the Company's SEC filings , please visit the
Company's website at http://www.

perches fingerprinting

A Loss of 3 Cents A Year Ago

Existing Brands , Acquisitions and Margin Expansion Initiatives
Drive Performance

Re-Affirms Guidance Including the New Impact of Expensing
Stock Options

Central Garden + Pet Company (Nasdaq:CENT) today announced record
results for its fiscal first quarter ended December 25, 2004 . These products are sold under
a number of brand names, including Kaytee, All-Glass Aquarium,
Oceanic , Kent Marine, Energy Saver Unlimited, Zodiac, Pre-Strike,
Altosid, Nylabone, TFH, Four Paws and Interpet .

sexing doves

----Central
Garden + Pet Company (Nasdaq:CENT):

Earnings Per Share of 12 Cents v. The Company anticipates stock options to cost
approximately three cents per fully-diluted share in fiscal 2005 and
approximately eight cents per fully-diluted share in fiscal 2006. Our lawn and garden
products include grass seed, wild bird food, weed and insect control
products, decorative outdoor patio products and ant control products.com/

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995: The statements contained in this release which are
not historical facts, including future earnings guidance, are
forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set
forth in or implied by forward -looking statements."
Oceanic(R) won the Best In Show award in the Aquarium Category for
its innovative "144 Stainless Steel Half Circle Aquarium.

Birds kept as pets include doves, pigeons, softbills, finches , canaries and all the parrot species.

jolley cages

These risks are
described in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings
including, without limitation, the resolution of litigation between
the Company and Hebert Axelrod. Central undertakes no obligation to
publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect new
information, subsequent events or otherwise.

Central Garden + Pet Wins Five ''New Product Awards'' at the 2005 Global Pet Expo; Oceanic's ''144 Stainless Steel Half Circle Aquarium'' Wins Best In Show Awa

-----Central
Garden + Pet Company (NASDAQ:CENT) today announced that it won five
new product awards, including Best In Show in the Aquarium category at
the 2005 Global Pet Expo in Orlando , Florida, presented jointly by the
American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) and the Pet
Industry Distributors Association (PIDA).

parrot pigeons

cockatoos fingerprinting

Business Editors/Home + Garden Writers

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal
2004.m.
These products are sold under a number of brand names, including
Pennington, Norcal Pottery, New England Pottery, GKI/Bethlehem
Lighting , Lilly Miller, Matthews Four Seasons, AMDRO, Grant's, Sevin
and Over'n Out.

playstands hotspot

12, compared to a loss of
$0. Our pet products include pet bird and small animal
food, aquarium products, flea, tick , mosquito and other pest control
products, edible bones, cages, carriers, pet books, and other dog ,
cat, reptile and small animal products.

incubators avian

EST. The conference call will be
simultaneously broadcast over the Internet through Central's website,
http://www.
"We are very pleased to win these prestigious awards at the Global
Pet Expo," commented Jim Heim, President of Pet Products Division of
Central Garden + Pet.

Poultry and wild birds are not considered as pets.

feather hotspot

5 million for the quarter compared to a net
loss of $0."
The Company reiterated its fiscal 2005 guidance of approximately
$1.centralgardenandpet .

feathered jolley

Fully-diluted earnings per share was $0. Our pet products include pet bird and small animal
food , aquarium products, flea, tick, mosquito and other pest control
products, edible bones, cages, carriers , pet books, and other dog,
cat, reptile and small animal products. These products are sold under
a number of brand names, including Kaytee, All-Glass Aquarium,
Oceanic, Kent Marine, Energy Saver Unlimited, Zodiac, Pre-Strike,
Altosid, Nylabone, TFH, Four Paws and Interpet.

kookaburra fingerprinting

The Company will discuss its fiscal first quarter 2005 results on
a conference call today at 4:30 p.
Wellmark received two awards in the Pond Category for the new
"PreStrike(TM) MosquitoTorpedo" and "PreStrike Larvicide" lines of
insect control products.

playstands incubators

52 per
fully diluted share.12 $(0. Heim. "Our
corporate goal is to have over 15% of Central's branded products sales
come from products launched within the past two years and for 2005, we
have an exciting line of new, innovative, proprietary products across
our entire portfolio of industry leading brands.

incubators playstands

Net sales for the fiscal first quarter were $265. Depreciation and
amortization in the quarter was $4.5 million. To listen to the webcast, please
log on to the website prior to the scheduled call time to register and
download any necessary audio software. "Nearly 600 products were submitted in the New
Products Showcase this year.

perches xpress

Net income was $2.

avian jolley

6 million, an
increase of 19% from $222.

playstands aviary

com/.

softbills sexing

Central Garden + Pet Announces Record First Quarter Earnings for Fiscal 2005

kookaburra playgyms

6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2004.

Central Garden + Pet Company is a leading innovator, marketer and
producer of quality branded products for the pet and lawn and garden
supplies markets.

Business Editors/Home + Garden Writers
2005 Global Pet Expo

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. Highlighting our on-going dedication to
innovation, Central continues to be recognized as the industry leader
in new product development .

pigeons hotspot

03 in the first quarter of fiscal 2004.
These products are sold under a number of brand names, including
Pennington, Norcal Pottery, New England Pottery, GKI/Bethlehem
Lighting, Lilly Miller, Matthews Four Seasons, AMDRO and Grant's. For
additional information on Central Garden + Pet, including access to
the Company's SEC filings, please visit the Company's website at
http://www.03)

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
Basic 20,539 19,877
Diluted 21,264 19,877

Central Garden + Pet Company
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)


December 25, December 27,
2004 2003
------------ ------- -----
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash + Cash Equivalents $14,100 $65,265
Restricted Investments 15,066 15,052
Accounts Receivable 143,656 113,839
Inventories 288 ,192 243,911
Other Current Assets 18,718 17,601
------------ ------------

Total Current Assets 479,732 455,668

Property + Equipment - Net 106 ,893 101,873

Goodwill 340,088 222,780
Other Assets 50,292 51,481
------------ ------------

Total $977,005 $831,802
============ ============


Liabilities + Shareholders' Equity
Current Liabilities:
Accounts Payable $119 ,018 $105,112
Accrued Expenses 69,448 47,556
Current Portion of Long-Term Debt 1,025 1,028
------------ ------------

Total Current Liabilities 189,491 153,696

Long-Term Liabilities 294,296 249,782
Other Long -Term Obligations 3,967 1,570
Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock 3,000 ---

Shareholders' Equity 486,251 426,754
------------ ------------


Total $977,005 $831,802
============ ============

aviary cages

com/

parrot kookaburra

---

- - kjjkjk

Loading...

(Note: These pages use the Atlas Content Safeguard System (ACSS) and require that Javascript is enabled for viewing.)