Central Garden & Pet (CENT) 10-Q 9 May 18 2018 Q2 Quarterly report Financial data

Document and Entity Information

Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 30, 2018
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2,018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Trading Symbol	CENT
Entity Registrant Name	CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO
Entity Central Index Key	887,733
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-29
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		12,145,135
Class A Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		38,227,508
Class B Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,652,262

Condensed Consolidated Balance

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 25, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 132,265	$ 32,397	$ 6,169
Restricted cash	13,948	12,645	10,988
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $20,976, $20,227 and $21,436)	395,151	237,868	343,202
Inventories	465,522	382,101	426,385
Prepaid expenses and other	26,677	18,045	23,610
Total current assets	1,033,563	683,056	810,354
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment—net	210,563	180,913	175,940
Goodwill	268,243	256,275	230,385
Other intangible assets—net	141,530	116,067	91,424
Other assets	50,064	70,595	60,361
Total	1,703,963	1,306,906	1,368,464
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	150,975	103,283	141,791
Accrued expenses	116,414	116,549	101,421
Current portion of long-term debt	20	375	374
Total current liabilities	267,409	220,207	243,586
Long-term debt	691,084	395,278	495,870
Deferred taxes and other long-term obligations	40,368	54,279	34,517
Equity:
Additional paid-in capital	393,852	396,790	391,541
Accumulated earnings	310,810	239,329	202,822
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(673)	(951)	(1,658)
Total Central Garden & Pet Company shareholders’ equity	704,508	635,686	593,220
Noncontrolling interest	594	1,456	1,271
Total equity	705,102	637,142	594,491
Total	1,703,963	1,306,906	1,368,464
Common stock, $0.01 par value: 12,145,135, 12,176,787, and 12,160,023 shares outstanding at March 31, 2018, March 25, 2017 and September 30, 2017
Equity:
Common stock	121	122	122
Total equity	121	122	122
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value: 38,171,595, 37,731,149 and 38,019,736 shares outstanding at March 31, 2018, March 25, 2017 and September 30, 2017
Equity:
Common stock	382	380	377
Total equity	382	380	377
Class B stock, $0.01 par value: 1,652,262 shares outstanding
Equity:
Common stock	16	16	16
Total equity	$ 16	$ 16	$ 16

Condensed Consolidated Balance3

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 25, 2017
Accounts receivable allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 20,976	$ 21,436	$ 20,227
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	12,145,135	12,160,023	12,176,787
Class A Common Stock
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	38,171,595	38,019,736	37,731,149
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Class B Common Stock
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	1,652,262	1,652,262	1,652,262
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01

Condensed Consolidated Statemen

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 613,094	$ 569,924	$ 1,055,105	$ 989,422
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	418,637	386,395	728,811	685,215
Gross profit	194,457	183,529	326,294	304,207
Selling, general and administrative expenses	128,671	119,669	237,987	220,409
Operating income	65,786	63,860	88,307	83,798
Interest expense	(10,575)	(6,830)	(17,980)	(13,703)
Interest income	693	8	880	46
Other income (expense)	1,505	(965)	(1,584)	(1,932)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	57,409	56,073	69,623	68,209
Income tax (benefit) expense	11,643	20,824	(2,593)	25,171
Income including noncontrolling interest	45,766	35,249	72,216	43,038
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	532	565	735	717
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$ 45,234	$ 34,684	$ 71,481	$ 42,321
Net income per share attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.89	$ 0.69	$ 1.41	$ 0.85
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.86	$ 0.67	$ 1.36	$ 0.82
Weighted average shares used in the computation of net income per share:
Basic (in shares)	50,871	50,079	50,816	49,872
Diluted (in shares)	52,658	51,983	52,693	51,911

Condensed Consolidated Stateme5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Income including noncontrolling interest	$ 45,766	$ 35,249	$ 72,216	$ 43,038
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	234	144	278	(364)
Total comprehensive income	46,000	35,393	72,494	42,674
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	532	565	735	717
Comprehensive income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$ 45,468	$ 34,828	$ 71,759	$ 41,957

Condensed Consolidated Stateme6

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 72,216	$ 43,038
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	22,285	20,344
Amortization of deferred financing costs	833	681
Stock-based compensation	5,536	5,279
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards	0	(13,166)
Deferred income taxes	(14,763)	6,530
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	(11)	40
Gain on sale of facility	0	(2,050)
Other	2,984	1,085
Change in assets and liabilities (excluding businesses acquired):
Accounts receivable	(154,712)	(139,319)
Inventories	(57,965)	(63,775)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(10,273)	6,919
Accounts payable	40,712	38,041
Accrued expenses	(1,848)	502
Other long-term obligations	1,048	(391)
Net cash used by operating activities	(93,958)	(96,242)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property and equipment	(17,566)	(26,794)
Payments to acquire companies, net of cash acquired	(63,372)	(60,042)
Proceeds from the sale of business, facility and other assets	0	8,268
Change in restricted cash	(1,303)	(78)
Investments	(6,555)	(2,000)
Other investing activities	(2,180)	(1,395)
Net cash used in investing activities	(90,976)	(82,041)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term debt	(360)	(449)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	300,000	0
Borrowings under revolving line of credit	23,000	216,000
Repayments under revolving line of credit	(23,000)	(115,000)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered for tax withholding	(8,473)	(20,172)
Payment of contingent consideration liability	(123)	(894)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	(1,597)	(1,019)
Payment of financing costs	(4,765)	0
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards	0	13,166
Net cash provided by financing activities	284,682	91,632
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	120	(162)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	99,868	(86,813)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	32,397	92,982
Cash and equivalents at end of period	132,265	6,169
Supplemental information:
Cash paid for interest	$ 13,397	$ 13,612

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The condensed consolidated balance sheets of Central Garden & Pet Company and subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Central”) as of March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017 , the condensed consolidated statements of operations and the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017 have been prepared by the Company, without audit. In the opinion of management, the interim financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. For the Company’s foreign business in the UK, the local currency is the functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date. Income and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate for the period. Deferred taxes are not provided on translation gains and losses because the Company expects earnings of its foreign subsidiary to be permanently reinvested. Transaction gains and losses are included in results of operations. See Note 8, Supplemental Equity Information, for further detail. Due to the seasonal nature of the Company’s garden business, the results of operations for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018 are not indicative of the operating results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual audited financial statements, accounting policies and financial notes thereto, included in the Company’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which has previously been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The September 30, 2017 balance sheet presented herein was derived from the audited financial statements. Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interest in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements represents the 20% interest not owned by Central in a consolidated subsidiary. Since the Company controls this subsidiary, its financial statements are consolidated with those of the Company, and the noncontrolling owner’s 20% share of the subsidiary’s net assets and results of operations is deducted and reported as noncontrolling interest on the consolidated balance sheets and as net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 8, Supplemental Equity Information, for additional information. Restricted Cash Restricted cash includes cash and highly liquid instruments that are used as collateral for stand-alone letter of credit agreements related to normal business transactions. These agreements require the Company to maintain specified amounts of cash as collateral in segregated accounts to support the letters of credit issued thereunder, which will affect the amount of cash the Company has available for other uses. The amount of cash collateral in these segregated accounts was approximately $13.9 million , $11.0 million and $12.6 million as of March 31, 2018 , March 25, 2017 and September 30, 2017 , respectively, and is reflected in restricted cash on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Recent Accounting Pronouncements and U.S. Tax Reform Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted Stock Based Compensation In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, Stock Compensation , which is intended to simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions. ASU 2016-09 (i) requires all income tax effects of awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled, (ii) requires classification of excess tax benefits as an operating activity in the statement of cash flows rather than a financing activity, (iii) eliminates the requirement to defer recognition of an excess tax benefit until the benefit is realized through a reduction to taxes payable, (iv) modifies statutory withholding tax requirements and (v) provides for a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur. The Company adopted ASU 2016-09 on October 1, 2017. As a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-09, the Company now records excess tax benefits currently in its provision for income taxes. Upon adoption, the Company determined it had no previously unrecognized excess tax benefits. Additionally, the Company elected to account for forfeitures as they occur using a modified retrospective transition method, which requires the Company to record a cumulative-effect adjustment to accumulated earnings, and the Company determined that the cumulative impact was immaterial. The Company presents its excess tax benefits as a component of operating cash flows rather than financing cash flows on a prospective basis. Inventory Measurement In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11 (ASU 2015-11), Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory . Under ASU 2015-11, inventory will be measured at the “lower of cost and net realizable value” and options that currently exist for “market value” will be eliminated. The standard defines net realizable value as the “estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation.” No other changes were made to the current guidance on inventory measurement. The Company adopted ASU 2015-11 on October 1, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted Revenue Recognition In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (ASU 2014-09), Revenue from Contracts with Customers . This update was issued as Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606. The core principle of this amendment is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. On July 9, 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for one year. ASU 2014-09 is now effective for the Company in the first quarter of its fiscal year ending September 28, 2019. The guidance permits two implementation approaches, one requiring retrospective application of the new standard with restatement of prior years and one requiring prospective application of the new standard with disclosure of results under old standards. The Company expects to adopt under the modified retrospective approach, which recognizes the cumulative effect of adoption as an adjustment to retained earnings at the date of initial application. The Company has made progress on its evaluation of the amended guidance, including identification of revenue streams and customer contract reviews. The Company is applying the five-step model to those contracts and revenue streams to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative impacts the new standard will have on its business and reported revenues. Additionally, the Company is also analyzing the impact of the new standard on its current accounting policies and internal controls. Upon completion of these and other assessments, the Company will evaluate the impact of adopting the new standard on its consolidated financial statements. Leases In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 (ASU 2016-02), Leases (Topic 842) . ASU 2016-02 requires companies to generally recognize on the balance sheet operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets. ASU 2016-02 is effective for the Company in its first quarter of fiscal 2020 on a modified retrospective basis and earlier adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of its pending adoption of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial statements, and it currently expects that most of its operating lease commitments will be subject to the new standard and the Company will record material operating lease liabilities and right-of-use assets upon the adoption of ASU 2016-02 . Statement of Cash Flows In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (ASU 2016-15) . The ASU provides additional clarification guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective for the Company in the first quarter of its fiscal year ending September 28, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2016-15 will have on its consolidated financial statements. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force) (ASU 2016-18) . This ASU clarifies the presentation of restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. Amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning and ending cash balances on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, or the Company's first quarter of fiscal 2019. The Company held restricted cash balances of $13.9 million , $11.0 million and $12.6 million as of March 31, 2018 , March 25, 2017 and September 30, 2017 , respectively. The Company does not anticipate the adoption of ASU 2016-18 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Business Combinations In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business (ASU 2017-01), which requires an evaluation of whether substantially all of the fair value of assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If so, the transaction does not qualify as a business. The guidance also requires an acquired business to include at least one substantive process and narrows the definition of outputs. The Company is required to apply this guidance to annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods, or the Company's first quarter of fiscal 2019. The adoption of this ASC may have an impact on accounting for any future acquisitions the Company may have. Goodwill In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment . The new guidance simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by removing the second step of the two-step impairment test. The amendment requires an entity to perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. The new guidance is effective for annual periods or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, or the Company's first quarter of fiscal 2021. The amendment should be applied on a prospective basis. Based on the Company's most recent annual goodwill impairment test performed as of June 25, 2017, there were no reporting units for which the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeded its fair value; therefore, this ASU would not currently have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. However, if upon adoption the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company would be impacted by the amount of impairment recognized. Income Taxes On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Reform Act”) was signed into law by the U.S. government. The Tax Reform Act significantly revised the U.S. corporate income tax code by, among other things, lowering the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018. U.S. GAAP requires that the impact of tax legislation be recognized in the period in which the law was enacted. The Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”) on December 22, 2017. This guidance allows registrants a “measurement period,” not to exceed one year from the date of enactment, to complete their accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Reform Act. SAB 118 further directs that during the measurement period, registrants who are able to make reasonable estimates of the tax effects of the Tax Reform Act should include those amounts in their financial statements as “provisional” amounts. Registrants should reflect adjustments over subsequent periods as they are able to refine their estimates and complete their accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Reform Act. The Company has made reasonable estimates and recorded provisional amounts within the meaning of SAB 118. Any adjustments recorded to the provisional amounts through the first quarter of fiscal 2019 will be included as an adjustment to tax expense. The provisional amounts incorporate assumptions made based upon the Company’s current interpretation of the Tax Reform Act and may change as the Company receives additional clarification and implementation guidance. In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-05, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 . This ASU adds guidance that answers questions regarding how certain income tax effects from the Tax Reform Act should be applied to companies’ financial statements. The guidance also lists which financial statement disclosures are required under a measurement period approach. As a result of the Tax Reform Act, the Company recorded a provisional tax benefit of $16.3 million due to the remeasurement of its deferred tax assets and liabilities in the three months ended December 30, 2017. The Company has not made any changes to this provisional tax benefit during the period ended March 31, 2018. This tax benefit represents provisional amounts and the Company’s current best estimates.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	Fair Value Measurements ASC 820 establishes a single authoritative definition of fair value, a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure of fair value measurements. ASC 820 requires financial assets and liabilities to be categorized based on the inputs used to calculate their fair values as follows: Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 - Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk). The Company’s financial instruments include cash and equivalents, short term investments consisting of bank certificates of deposit, accounts receivable and payable, derivative instruments, short-term borrowings, and accrued liabilities. The carrying amount of these instruments approximates fair value because of their short-term nature. Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis based upon the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall, as of March 31, 2018 (in thousands): Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Liabilities: Liability for contingent consideration (a) $ — $ — $ 9,148 $ 9,148 Total liabilities $ — $ — $ 9,148 $ 9,148 The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis based upon the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall, as of March 25, 2017 (in thousands): Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Liabilities: Liability for contingent consideration (a) $ — $ — $ 4,420 $ 4,420 Total liabilities $ — $ — $ 4,420 $ 4,420 The following table presents our financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis based upon the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall, as of September 30, 2017 : Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Liabilities: Liability for contingent consideration (a) $ — $ — $ 9,343 $ 9,343 Total liabilities $ — $ — $ 9,343 $ 9,343 (a) The liability for contingent consideration relates to an earn-out for B2E, acquired in December 2012, future performance-based contingent payments for Hydro-Organics Wholesale, Inc., acquired in October 2015, and future performance-based contingent payment for Segrest, Inc., acquired in October 2016. The fair value of the estimated contingent consideration arrangement is determined based on the Company’s evaluation as to the probability and amount of any earn-out that will be achieved based on expected future performance by the acquired entity. This is presented as part of long-term liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The following table provides a summary of the changes in fair value of the Company's Level 3 financial instruments for the periods ended March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017 (in thousands): Amount Balance September 30, 2017 $ 9,343 Estimated contingent performance-based consideration established at the time of acquisition — Changes in the fair value of contingent performance-based payments established at the time of acquisition (72 ) Performance-based payments (123 ) Balance March 31, 2018 $ 9,148 Amount Balance September 24, 2016 $ 5,113 Estimated contingent performance-based consideration established at the time of acquisition — Changes in the fair value of contingent performance-based payments established at the time of acquisition 201 Performance-based payments (894 ) Balance March 25, 2017 $ 4,420 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis The Company measures certain non-financial assets and liabilities, including long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets, at fair value on a non-recurring basis. Fair value measurements of non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities are used primarily in the impairment analyses of long-lived assets, goodwill and other intangible assets. During the periods ended March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017 , the Company was not required to measure any significant non-financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments In December 2017, the Company issued $300 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due February 2028 (the "2028 Notes"). The estimated fair value of the Company's 2028 Notes as of March 31, 2018 was $285.4 million compared to a carrying value of $295.3 million . In November 2015, the Company issued $400 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% senior notes due November 2023 (the “2023 Notes”). The estimated fair value of the Company’s 2023 Notes as of March 31, 2018 , March 25, 2017 and September 30, 2017 was $419.0 million , $422.4 million and $427.9 million , respectively, compared to a carrying value of $395.6 million , $394.8 million and $395.2 million , respectively.

Acquisitions

Acquisitions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisitions	Acquisitions Bell Nursery Holdings, LLC On March 12, 2018, the Company purchased Bell Nursery Holdings, LLC ("Bell"), a leading grower and distributor of live flowers and plants in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, for a purchase price of approximately $62 million plus contingent consideration of up to $10 million . The purchase price exceeded the estimated fair value of the net tangible assets acquired by approximately $12.7 million , which is included in other assets in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2018 . The Company has not yet finalized the allocation of the purchase price to the fair value of the tangible assets, intangible assets and liabilities acquired. Financial results of Bell have been included in the results of operations within the Garden segment since the date of acquisition. The acquisition is expected to complement the Company's existing garden portfolio. K&H Manufacturing On April 28, 2017, the Company purchased K&H Manufacturing ("K&H"), a producer of premium pet supplies and the largest marketer of heated pet products in the country, for a purchase price of approximately $48.0 million . The purchase price exceeded the estimated fair value of the net tangible assets acquired by approximately $41.8 million , of which $29.2 million was allocated to identified intangible assets and approximately $12 million is included in goodwill in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2018 . Financial results of K&H have been included in the results of operations within the Pet segment since the date of acquisition. The following table summarizes the purchase price and recording of fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date and subsequent adjustments. In thousands Amounts Previously Recognized as of Acquisition Date (1) Measurement Period Adjustments Amounts Recognized as of Acquisition Date (as Adjusted) Current assets, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired $ 5,439 $ 613 $ 6,052 Land, buildings, improvements and equipment - net 315 — 315 Goodwill — 11,968 11,968 Other assets 41,781 (41,781 ) — Other intangible assets - net — 29,200 29,200 Current liabilities (757 ) — (757 ) Net assets acquired, less cash and cash equivalents $ 46,778 $ — $ 46,778 (1) As previously reported in the Company's Form 10-Q for the periods ended June 24, 2017 and December 30, 2017, and the Company's Form 10-K for the period ended September 30, 2017. Proforma financial information has not been presented as the Bell and K&H acquisitions were not considered material to the Company's overall consolidated financial statements during the periods presented.

Inventories, net

Inventories, net	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Inventories, net	Inventories, net Inventories, net of allowance for obsolescence, consist of the following (in thousands): March 31, 2018 March 25, 2017 September 30, 2017 Raw materials $ 117,370 $ 122,029 $ 116,591 Work in progress 40,491 21,636 16,394 Finished goods 293,988 273,752 241,420 Supplies 13,673 8,968 7,696 Total inventories, net $ 465,522 $ 426,385 $ 382,101

Goodwill

Goodwill	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill	Goodwill The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually (as of the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter), or whenever events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount, by first assessing qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If it is determined that it is more likely than not the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, it is unnecessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. If it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the two-step test is performed to identify potential goodwill impairment. Based on certain circumstances, the Company may elect to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to performing the first step of the two-step goodwill impairment test, which compares the fair value of the Company’s reporting units to their related carrying values, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the Company performs an additional step to determine the implied fair value of goodwill associated with that reporting unit. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by first allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities and then computing the excess of the reporting unit’s fair value over the amounts assigned to the assets and liabilities. If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of goodwill, such excess represents the amount of goodwill impairment, and, accordingly, the Company recognizes such impairment. The Company’s goodwill impairment analysis also includes a comparison of the aggregate estimated fair value of its two reporting units to the Company’s total market capitalization.

Other Intangible Assets

Other Intangible Assets	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Other Intangible Assets	Other Intangible Assets The following table summarizes the components of gross and net acquired intangible assets: Gross Accumulated Amortization Accumulated Impairment Net Carrying Value (in millions) March 31, 2018 Marketing-related intangible assets – amortizable $ 16.9 $ (13.4 ) $ — $ 3.5 Marketing-related intangible assets – nonamortizable 70.6 — (26.0 ) 44.6 Total 87.5 (13.4 ) (26.0 ) 48.1 Customer-related intangible assets – amortizable 115.7 (37.5 ) 78.2 Other acquired intangible assets – amortizable 22.1 (13.5 ) 8.6 Other acquired intangible assets – nonamortizable 7.8 (1.2 ) 6.6 Total 29.9 (13.5 ) (1.2 ) 15.2 Total other intangible assets $ 233.1 $ (64.4 ) $ (27.2 ) $ 141.5 Gross Accumulated Amortization Accumulated Impairment Net Carrying Value (in millions) March 25, 2017 Marketing-related intangible assets – amortizable $ 14.9 $ (11.7 ) $ — $ 3.2 Marketing-related intangible assets – nonamortizable 62.7 — (26.0 ) 36.7 Total 77.6 (11.7 ) (26.0 ) 39.9 Customer-related intangible assets – amortizable 64.3 (28.0 ) — 36.3 Other acquired intangible assets – amortizable 20.8 (12.2 ) — 8.6 Other acquired intangible assets – nonamortizable 7.8 — (1.2 ) 6.6 Total 28.6 (12.2 ) (1.2 ) 15.2 Total other intangible assets $ 170.5 $ (51.9 ) $ (27.2 ) $ 91.4 Gross Accumulated Amortization Accumulated Impairment Net Carrying Value (in millions) September 30, 2017 Marketing-related intangible assets – amortizable $ 16.9 $ (12.7 ) $ — $ 4.2 Marketing-related intangible assets – nonamortizable 62.7 — (26.0 ) 36.7 Total 79.6 (12.7 ) (26.0 ) 40.9 Customer-related intangible assets – amortizable 91.6 (32.2 ) — 59.4 Other acquired intangible assets – amortizable 22.1 (12.9 ) — 9.2 Other acquired intangible assets – nonamortizable 7.8 — (1.2 ) 6.6 Total 29.9 (12.9 ) (1.2 ) 15.8 Total other intangible assets $ 201.1 $ (57.8 ) $ (27.2 ) $ 116.1 Other acquired intangible assets include contract-based and technology-based intangible assets. As part of its acquisition of K&H in the second quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company acquired approximately $7.9 million of indefinite-lived marketing- related intangible assets and $21.3 million of customer-related intangible assets, which will be amortized over a ten year life. The Company evaluates long-lived assets, including amortizable and indefinite-lived intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company evaluates indefinite-lived intangible assets on an annual basis. Other factors indicating the carrying value of the Company’s amortizable intangible assets may not be recoverable were not present in fiscal 2017 or during the six months ended March 31, 2018 , and accordingly, no impairment testing was performed on these assets. The Company amortizes its acquired intangible assets with definite lives over periods ranging from 3 to 25 years; over weighted average remaining lives of 4 years for marketing-related intangibles, 10 years for customer-related intangibles and 11 years for other acquired intangibles. Amortization expense for intangibles subject to amortization was approximately $2.9 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017 , respectively, and $5.7 million and $2.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017 , respectively, and is classified within operating expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Estimated annual amortization expense related to acquired intangible assets in each of the succeeding five years is estimated to be approximately $10 million per year from fiscal 2018 through fiscal 2022 .

Long-Term Debt

Long-Term Debt	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-Term Debt	Long-Term Debt Long-term debt consists of the following: March 31, 2018 March 25, 2017 September 30, 2017 (in thousands) Senior notes, interest at 6.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due November 2023 $ 400,000 $ 400,000 $ 400,000 Senior notes, interest at 5.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due February 2028 300,000 — — Unamortized debt issuance costs (9,053 ) (5,237 ) (4,840 ) Net carrying value 690,947 394,763 395,160 Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 — 101,000 — Other notes payable 157 481 493 Total 691,104 496,244 395,653 Less current portion (20 ) (374 ) (375 ) Long-term portion $ 691,084 $ 495,870 $ 395,278 Senior Notes $300 Million 5.125% Senior Notes On December 14, 2017, the Company issued $300 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due February 2028 (the "2028 Notes"). The Company will use the net proceeds from the offering to finance future acquisitions and for general corporate purposes. The Company incurred approximately $4.8 million of debt issuance costs in conjunction with this transaction, which included underwriter fees and legal, accounting and rating agency expenses. The debt issuance costs are being amortized over the term of the 2028 Notes. The 2028 Notes require semiannual interest payments on February 1 and August 1, commencing August 1, 2018. The 2028 Notes are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by the Company's existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries who are borrowers under or guarantors of Central's senior secured revolving credit facility or who guarantee the 2023 Notes. The Company may redeem some or all of the 2028 Notes at any time, at its option, prior to January 1, 2023 at the principal amount plus a “make whole” premium. At any time prior to January 1, 2021, the Company may also redeem, at its option, up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the notes with the proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price of 105.125% of the principal amount of the notes. The Company may redeem some or all of the 2028 Notes, at its option, at any time on or after January 1, 2023 for 102.563% , on or after January 1, 2024 for 101.708% , on or after January 1, 2025 for 100.854% , and on or after January 1, 2026 for 100.0% , plus accrued and unpaid interest. The holders of the 2028 Notes have the right to require us to repurchase all or a portion of the 2028 Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest upon the occurrence of a change of control. The 2028 Notes contain customary high yield covenants, including covenants limiting debt incurrence and restricted payments, subject to certain baskets and exceptions. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 31, 2018 . $400 Million 6.125% Senior Notes On November 9, 2015, the Company issued $400 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% senior notes due November 2023 (the "2023 Notes"). In December 2015, the Company used the net proceeds from the offering, together with available cash, to redeem its $400 million aggregate principal amount of 8.25% senior subordinated notes due March 1, 2018 ("2018 Notes") at a price of 102.063% of the principal amount and to pay fees and expenses related to the offering. The 2023 Notes are unsecured senior obligations and are subordinated to all of the Company’s existing and future secured debt, including the Company’s Credit Facility, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. The Company incurred approximately $6.3 million of debt issuance costs in conjunction with these transactions, which included underwriter fees and legal, accounting and rating agency expenses. The debt issuance costs are being amortized over the term of the 2023 Notes. The 2023 Notes require semiannual interest payments on May 15 and November 15. The 2023 Notes are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by each of the Company’s existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries which are borrowers under or guarantors of Central’s senior secured revolving credit facility. The 2023 Notes are unsecured senior obligations and are subordinated to all of the Company’s existing and future secured debt, including the Company’s Credit Facility, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. The Company may redeem some or all of the 2023 Notes at any time, at its option, prior to November 15, 2018 at the principal amount plus a “make whole” premium. At any time prior to November 15, 2018, the Company may also redeem, at its option, up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the notes with the proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price of 106.125% of the principal amount of the notes. The Company may redeem some or all of the 2023 Notes, at its option, at any time on or after November 15, 2018 for 104.594% , on or after November 15, 2019 for 103.063% , on or after November 15, 2020 for 101.531% and on or after November 15, 2021 for 100% , plus accrued and unpaid interest. The holders of the 2023 Notes have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of the 2023 Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest upon the occurrence of a change of control. The 2023 Notes contain customary high yield covenants, including covenants limiting debt incurrence and restricted payments, subject to certain baskets and exceptions. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 31, 2018 . Asset-Based Loan Facility Amendment On April 22, 2016, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement which provides up to a $400 million principal amount senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility, with up to an additional $200 million principal amount available with the consent of the Lenders if the Company exercises the accordion feature set forth therein (collectively, the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility matures on April 22, 2021. The Company may borrow, repay and reborrow amounts under the Credit Facility until its maturity date, at which time all amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility must be repaid in full. As of March 31, 2018 , there were no borrowings outstanding and no letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Facility. There were other letters of credit of $3.3 million outstanding as of March 31, 2018 . The Credit Facility is subject to a borrowing base, calculated using a formula based upon eligible receivables and inventory, minus certain reserves and subject to restrictions. As of March 31, 2018 , the borrowing base and remaining borrowing availability was $354.3 million . Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at an index based on LIBOR or, at the option of the Company, the Base Rate (defined as the highest of (a) the SunTrust prime rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% and (c) one-month LIBOR plus 1.00% ), plus, in either case, an applicable margin based on the Company’s consolidated senior leverage ratio. Such applicable margin for LIBOR-based borrowings fluctuates between 1.25% - 1.50% , and was 1.25% as of March 31, 2018 , and such applicable margin for Base Rate borrowings fluctuates between 0.25% - 0.5% , and was 0.25% as of March 31, 2018 . As of March 31, 2018 , the applicable interest rate related to Base Rate borrowings was 5.0% , and the applicable interest rate related to LIBOR-based borrowings was 3.1% . The Company incurred approximately $1.2 million of debt issuance costs in conjunction with this transaction, which included underwriter fees, legal and accounting expenses. The debt issuance costs are being amortized over the term of the Credit Facility. The Credit Facility contains customary covenants, including financial covenants which require the Company to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.00 :1.00 upon reaching certain borrowing levels. The Credit Facility is secured by substantially all assets of the Company. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants under the Credit Facility during the quarter ended March 31, 2018 .

Supplemental Equity Information

Supplemental Equity Information	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Supplemental Equity Information	Supplemental Equity Information The following table provides a summary of the changes in the carrying amounts of equity attributable to controlling interest and noncontrolling interest for the six months ended March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017 . Controlling Interest (in thousands) Common Stock Class A Common Stock Class B Stock Additional Paid In Capital Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Total Noncontrolling Interest Total Balance September 30, 2017 $ 122 $ 380 $ 16 $ 396,790 $ 239,329 $ (951 ) $ 635,686 $ 1,456 $ 637,142 Comprehensive income 71,481 278 71,759 735 72,494 Amortization of share-based awards 4,464 4,464 4,464 Restricted share activity, including net share settlement (1 ) (6,270 ) (6,271 ) (6,271 ) Issuance of common stock, including net share settlement of stock options 2 (1,132 ) (1,130 ) (1,130 ) Distribution to Noncontrolling interest (1,597 ) (1,597 ) Balance March 31, 2018 $ 121 $ 382 $ 16 $ 393,852 $ 310,810 $ (673 ) $ 704,508 $ 594 $ 705,102 Controlling Interest (in thousands) Common Stock Class A Common Stock Class B Stock Additional Paid In Capital Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Total Noncontrolling Interest Total Balance September 24, 2016 $ 120 $ 374 $ 16 $ 393,297 $ 160,501 $ (1,294 ) $ 553,014 $ 1,573 $ 554,587 Comprehensive income 42,321 (364 ) 41,957 717 42,674 Amortization of share-based awards 4,222 4,222 4,222 Restricted share activity, including net share settlement (1 ) (5,501 ) (5,502 ) (5,502 ) Issuance of common stock, including net share settlement of stock options 2 4 (13,619 ) (13,613 ) (13,613 ) Tax benefit on stock option exercise, net of tax deficiency 13,142 13,142 13,142 Distribution to Noncontrolling interest (1,019 ) (1,019 ) Balance March 25, 2017 $ 122 $ 377 $ 16 $ 391,541 $ 202,822 $ (1,658 ) $ 593,220 $ 1,271 $ 594,491

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock-Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation The Company recognized share-based compensation expense of $5.5 million and $5.3 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017 , respectively, as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses. The tax benefit associated with share-based compensation expense for the six months ended March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017 was $1.5 million and $1.9 million , respectively.

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	Earnings Per Share The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted per share computations for income from continuing operations. Three Months Ended Six Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2018 Income Shares Per Share Income Shares Per Share Basic EPS: Net income available to common shareholders $ 45,234 50,871 $ 0.89 $ 71,481 50,816 $ 1.41 Effect of dilutive securities: Options to purchase common stock 1,092 (0.02 ) 1,120 (0.03 ) Restricted shares 695 (0.01 ) 757 (0.02 ) Diluted EPS: Net income available to common shareholders $ 45,234 52,658 $ 0.86 $ 71,481 52,693 $ 1.36 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended March 25, 2017 March 25, 2017 Income Shares Per Share Income Shares Per Share Basic EPS: Net income available to common shareholders $ 34,684 50,079 $ 0.69 $ 42,321 49,872 $ 0.85 Effect of dilutive securities: Options to purchase common stock 1,156 (0.01 ) 1,273 (0.02 ) Restricted shares 748 (0.01 ) 766 (0.01 ) Diluted EPS: Net income available to common shareholders $ 34,684 51,983 $ 0.67 $ 42,321 51,911 $ 0.82 Options to purchase 2.7 million shares of common stock at prices ranging from $6.43 to $36.94 per share were outstanding at March 31, 2018 , and options to purchase 3.1 million shares of common stock at prices ranging from $6.43 to $31.76 per share were outstanding at March 25, 2017 . For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017 , all options outstanding were included in the computation of diluted earnings per share. For the six months ended March 31, 2018 , all options outstanding were included in the computation of diluted earnings per share. For the six months ended March 25, 2017 , options to purchase 0.2 million shares of common stock were outstanding but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share, because the option exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares and, therefore, the effect would be anti-dilutive.

Segment Information

Segment Information	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Information	Segment Information Management has determined that the Company has two operating segments, which are also reportable segments based on the level at which the Chief Operating Decision Maker reviews the results of operations to make decisions regarding performance assessment and resource allocation. These operating segments are Pet segment and Garden segment and are presented in the table below (in thousands). Three Months Ended Six Months Ended March 31, March 25, March 31, March 25, Net sales: Pet segment $ 321,653 $ 298,393 $ 646,737 $ 602,439 Garden segment 291,441 271,531 408,368 386,983 Total net sales $ 613,094 $ 569,924 $ 1,055,105 $ 989,422 Operating Income Pet segment 32,784 34,645 68,960 68,051 Garden segment 50,746 46,005 53,046 48,681 Corporate (17,744 ) (16,790 ) (33,699 ) (32,934 ) Total operating income 65,786 63,860 88,307 83,798 Interest expense - net (9,882 ) (6,822 ) (17,100 ) (13,657 ) Other income (expense) 1,505 (965 ) (1,584 ) (1,932 ) Income tax expense (benefit) 11,643 20,824 (2,593 ) 25,171 Income including noncontrolling interest 45,766 35,249 72,216 43,038 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 532 565 735 717 Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 45,234 $ 34,684 $ 71,481 $ 42,321 Depreciation and amortization: Pet segment $ 6,944 6,174 $ 14,089 $ 12,004 Garden segment 1,707 1,528 3,276 3,035 Corporate 2,471 2,633 4,920 5,305 Total depreciation and amortization $ 11,122 $ 10,335 $ 22,285 $ 20,344 March 31, March 25, September 30, Assets: Pet segment $ 660,344 $ 612,189 $ 612,337 Garden segment 581,105 478,919 311,026 Corporate 462,514 277,356 383,543 Total assets $ 1,703,963 $ 1,368,464 $ 1,306,906 Goodwill (included in corporate assets above): Pet segment $ 262,770 $ 224,912 $ 250,802 Garden segment 5,473 5,473 5,473 Total goodwill $ 268,243 $ 230,385 $ 256,275

Consolidating Condensed Financi

Consolidating Condensed Financial Information of Guarantor Subsidiaries	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]
Consolidating Condensed Financial Information of Guarantor Subsidiaries	Consolidating Condensed Financial Information of Guarantor Subsidiaries Certain 100% wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company (as listed below, collectively the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”) have guaranteed fully and unconditionally, on a joint and several basis, the obligation to pay principal and interest on the Company’s 2023 Notes and 2028 Notes. Certain subsidiaries and operating divisions are not guarantors of the 2023 Notes and 2028 Notes. Those subsidiaries that are guarantors and co-obligors of the 2023 Notes and 2028 Notes are as follows: Farnam Companies, Inc. Four Paws Products Ltd. Gulfstream Home & Garden, Inc. Hydro-Organics Wholesale, Inc. IMS Trading, LLC IMS Southern, LLC K&H Manufacturing, LLC Kaytee Products, Inc. Matson, LLC New England Pottery, LLC Pennington Seed, Inc. (including Gro Tec, Inc., NEXGEN Turf Research, LLC and All-Glass Aquarium Co., Inc.) Pets International, Ltd. Segrest, Inc. (including Blue Springs Hatchery, Inc., Segrest Farms, Inc., Florida Tropical Distributors International, Inc., Sun Pet, Ltd, Aquatica Tropicals, Inc., Quality Pets, LLC and Midwest Tropicals, LLC) T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Wellmark International (including B2E Corporation, B2E Microbials, LLC, B2E Manufacturing, LLC, Four Star Microbial Products, LLC and B2E Biotech LLC) In lieu of providing separate audited financial statements for the Guarantor Subsidiaries, the Company has included the accompanying consolidating condensed financial statements based on the Company’s understanding of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s interpretation and application of Rule 3-10 of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Regulation S-X. CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net sales $ 195,464 $ 32,433 $ 412,348 $ (27,151 ) $ 613,094 Cost of goods sold and occupancy 151,868 24,192 268,072 (25,495 ) 418,637 Gross profit 43,596 8,241 144,276 (1,656 ) 194,457 Selling, general and administrative expenses 41,677 6,532 82,118 (1,656 ) 128,671 Operating income (loss) 1,919 1,709 62,158 — 65,786 Interest expense (10,510 ) (62 ) (3 ) (10,575 ) Interest income 692 1 — 693 Other (expense) income 1,108 200 197 1,505 Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates (6,791 ) 1,848 62,352 — 57,409 Income tax expense (benefit) (13,753 ) (1,549 ) 26,945 11,643 Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates 38,272 — 3,841 (42,113 ) — Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest 45,234 3,397 39,248 (42,113 ) 45,766 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest — 532 — — 532 Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 45,234 $ 2,865 $ 39,248 $ (42,113 ) $ 45,234 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Three Months Ended March 25, 2017 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net sales $ 190,791 $ 26,092 $ 378,673 $ (25,632 ) $ 569,924 Cost of goods sold and occupancy 145,593 20,128 244,680 (24,006 ) 386,395 Gross profit 45,198 5,964 133,993 (1,626 ) 183,529 Selling, general and administrative expenses 39,347 4,874 77,074 (1,626 ) 119,669 Operating income (loss) 5,851 1,090 56,919 — 63,860 Interest expense (6,759 ) (65 ) (6 ) — (6,830 ) Interest income 7 1 — — 8 Other expense (737 ) (194 ) (34 ) — (965 ) Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates (1,638 ) 832 56,879 — 56,073 Income tax expense (benefit) (718 ) 448 21,094 — 20,824 Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates 35,604 — 384 (35,988 ) — Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest 34,684 384 36,169 (35,988 ) 35,249 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest — 565 — — 565 Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 34,684 $ (181 ) $ 36,169 $ (35,988 ) $ 34,684 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Six Months Ended March 31, 2018 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net sales $ 354,525 $ 46,176 $ 698,772 $ (44,368 ) $ 1,055,105 Cost of goods sold and occupancy 277,347 36,008 457,123 (41,667 ) 728,811 Gross profit 77,178 10,168 241,649 (2,701 ) 326,294 Selling, general and administrative expenses 78,316 10,437 151,935 (2,701 ) 237,987 Operating income (1,138 ) (269 ) 89,714 — 88,307 Interest expense (17,895 ) (78 ) (7 ) — (17,980 ) Interest income 878 2 — — 880 Other income (expense) (1,810 ) 254 (28 ) — (1,584 ) Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates (19,965 ) (91 ) 89,679 — 69,623 Income tax expense (benefit) 672 (267 ) (2,998 ) — (2,593 ) Equity in earnings of affiliates 92,118 — 941 (93,059 ) — Net income including noncontrolling interest 71,481 176 93,618 (93,059 ) 72,216 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest — 735 — — 735 Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 71,481 $ (559 ) $ 93,618 $ (93,059 ) $ 71,481 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Six Months Ended March 25, 2017 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net sales $ 346,309 $ 40,116 $ 645,111 $ (42,114 ) $ 989,422 Cost of goods sold and occupancy 266,729 31,806 426,120 (39,440 ) 685,215 Gross profit 79,580 8,310 218,991 (2,674 ) 304,207 Selling, general and administrative expenses 75,312 8,538 139,233 (2,674 ) 220,409 Operating income (loss) 4,268 (228 ) 79,758 — 83,798 Interest expense (13,610 ) (82 ) (11 ) — (13,703 ) Interest income 45 1 — — 46 Other income (expense) (1,340 ) (387 ) (205 ) — (1,932 ) Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates (10,637 ) (696 ) 79,542 — 68,209 Income tax expense (benefit) (3,910 ) 37 29,044 — 25,171 Equity in earnings of affiliates 49,048 — (427 ) (48,621 ) — Net income including noncontrolling interest 42,321 (733 ) 50,071 (48,621 ) 43,038 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest — 717 — — 717 Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 42,321 $ (1,450 ) $ 50,071 $ (48,621 ) $ 42,321 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net income (loss) $ 45,234 $ 3,397 $ 39,248 $ (42,113 ) $ 45,766 Other comprehensive income (loss): Foreign currency translation 234 206 (48 ) (158 ) 234 Total comprehensive income (loss) 45,468 3,603 39,200 (42,271 ) 46,000 Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests — 532 — — 532 Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 45,468 $ 3,071 $ 39,200 $ (42,271 ) $ 45,468 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Three Months Ended March 25, 2017 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net income (loss) $ 34,684 $ 384 $ 36,169 $ (35,988 ) $ 35,249 Other comprehensive loss: Foreign currency translation 144 95 20 (115 ) 144 Total comprehensive income (loss) 34,828 479 36,189 (36,103 ) 35,393 Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests — 565 — — 565 Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 34,828 $ (86 ) $ 36,189 $ (36,103 ) $ 34,828 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Six Months Ended March 31, 2018 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net income (loss) $ 71,481 $ 176 $ 93,618 $ (93,059 ) $ 72,216 Other comprehensive loss: — — — — Foreign currency translation 278 249 (64 ) (185 ) 278 Total comprehensive income (loss) 71,759 425 93,554 (93,244 ) 72,494 Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests — 735 — — 735 Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 71,759 $ (310 ) $ 93,554 $ (93,244 ) $ 71,759 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Six Months Ended March 25, 2017 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net income (loss) $ 42,321 $ (733 ) $ 50,071 $ (48,621 ) $ 43,038 Other comprehensive income (loss): Foreign currency translation (364 ) (260 ) (30 ) 290 (364 ) Total comprehensive income (loss) 41,957 (993 ) 50,041 (48,331 ) 42,674 Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests — 717 — — 717 Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 41,957 $ (1,710 ) $ 50,041 $ (48,331 ) $ 41,957 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET March 31, 2018 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 123,840 $ 7,170 $ 1,255 $ — $ 132,265 Restricted cash 13,948 — — — 13,948 Accounts receivable, net 132,218 19,938 242,995 — 395,151 Inventories 137,108 43,438 284,976 — 465,522 Prepaid expenses and other 6,157 2,086 18,434 — 26,677 Total current assets 413,271 72,632 547,660 — 1,033,563 Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net 35,314 34,632 140,617 210,563 Goodwill 15,058 — 253,185 268,243 Other long-term assets 56,612 14,642 132,916 (12,576 ) 191,594 Intercompany receivable 54,117 — 610,760 (664,877 ) — Investment in subsidiaries 1,539,309 — — (1,539,309 ) — Total $ 2,113,681 $ 121,906 $ 1,685,138 $ (2,216,762 ) $ 1,703,963 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Accounts payable $ 48,659 $ 19,752 $ 82,564 $ — $ 150,975 Accrued expenses 63,951 5,303 47,160 — 116,414 Current portion of long-term debt — — 20 — 20 Total current liabilities 112,610 25,055 129,744 — 267,409 Long-term debt 690,947 — 137 691,084 Intercompany payable 597,619 67,258 — (664,877 ) — Losses in excess of investment in subsidiaries — — 25,228 (25,228 ) — Other long-term obligations 7,997 — 44,947 (12,576 ) 40,368 Total Central Garden & Pet shareholders’ equity (deficit) 704,508 28,999 1,485,082 (1,514,081 ) 704,508 Noncontrolling interest — 594 — — 594 Total equity (deficit) 704,508 29,593 1,485,082 (1,514,081 ) 705,102 Total $ 2,113,681 $ 121,906 $ 1,685,138 $ (2,216,762 ) $ 1,703,963 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET March 25, 2017 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 492 $ 4,764 $ 913 $ — $ 6,169 Restricted cash 10,988 — — — 10,988 Accounts receivable, net 113,600 14,366 215,236 — 343,202 Inventories 138,493 16,901 270,991 — 426,385 Prepaid expenses and other 7,701 813 15,096 — 23,610 Total current assets 271,274 36,844 502,236 — 810,354 Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net 38,932 4,045 132,963 — 175,940 Goodwill 15,058 — 215,327 — 230,385 Other long-term assets 40,704 3,381 127,924 (20,224 ) 151,785 Intercompany receivable 44,957 — 511,319 (556,276 ) — Investment in subsidiaries 1,287,126 — — (1,287,126 ) — Total $ 1,698,051 $ 44,270 $ 1,489,769 $ (1,863,626 ) $ 1,368,464 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Accounts payable $ 51,357 $ 11,199 $ 79,235 $ — $ 141,791 Accrued expenses 53,301 2,131 45,989 — 101,421 Current portion of long-term debt — — 374 — 374 Total current liabilities 104,658 13,330 125,598 — 243,586 Long-term debt 495,762 — 108 — 495,870 Intercompany payable 501,993 54,283 — (556,276 ) — Losses in excess of investment in subsidiaries — — 20,629 (20,629 ) — Other long-term obligations 2,418 — 52,323 (20,224 ) 34,517 Total Central Garden & Pet shareholders’ equity (deficit) 593,220 (24,614 ) 1,291,111 (1,266,497 ) 593,220 Noncontrolling interest — 1,271 — — 1,271 Total equity (deficit) 593,220 (23,343 ) 1,291,111 (1,266,497 ) 594,491 Total $ 1,698,051 $ 44,270 $ 1,489,769 $ (1,863,626 ) $ 1,368,464 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET September 30, 2017 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 19,238 $ 11,693 $ 1,466 $ — $ 32,397 Restricted cash 12,645 — — — 12,645 Accounts receivable, net 78,692 5,586 153,590 — 237,868 Inventories 125,797 9,493 246,811 — 382,101 Prepaid expenses and other assets 6,059 811 11,175 — 18,045 Total current assets 242,431 27,583 413,042 — 683,056 Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net 38,170 4,225 138,518 — 180,913 Goodwill 15,058 — 241,217 — 256,275 Other long-term assets 61,715 2,376 146,372 (23,801 ) 186,662 Intercompany receivable 36,606 — 662,137 (698,743 ) — Investment in subsidiaries 1,383,633 — — (1,383,633 ) — Total $ 1,777,613 $ 34,184 $ 1,601,286 $ (2,106,177 ) $ 1,306,906 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Accounts payable $ 36,760 $ 3,076 $ 63,447 $ — $ 103,283 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 54,909 2,391 59,249 — 116,549 Current portion of long term debt — — 375 — 375 Total current liabilities 91,669 5,467 123,071 — 220,207 Long-term debt 395,160 — 118 — 395,278 Intercompany payable 647,409 51,334 — (698,743 ) — Losses in excess of investment in subsidiaries — — 19,782 (19,782 ) — Other long-term obligations 7,689 — 70,391 (23,801 ) 54,279 Total Central Garden & Pet shareholders’ equity (deficit) 635,686 (24,073 ) 1,387,924 (1,363,851 ) 635,686 Noncontrolling interest — 1,456 — — 1,456 Total equity (deficit) 635,686 (22,617 ) 1,387,924 (1,363,851 ) 637,142 Total $ 1,777,613 $ 34,184 $ 1,601,286 $ (2,106,177 ) $ 1,306,906 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS Six Months Ended March 31, 2018 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net cash provided (used) by operating activities $ (36,868 ) $ (11,840 ) $ (38,863 ) $ (6,387 ) $ (93,958 ) Additions to property and equipment (4,923 ) (494 ) (12,149 ) (17,566 ) Payments to acquire companies, net of cash acquired (63,372 ) (63,372 ) Change in restricted cash and cash equivalents (1,303 ) (1,303 ) Investments (6,555 ) (6,555 ) Other investing activities (2,180 ) — — — (2,180 ) Intercompany investing activities (17,512 ) 51,377 (33,865 ) — Net cash used by investing activities (95,845 ) (494 ) 39,228 (33,865 ) (90,976 ) Repayments on revolving line of credit (23,000 ) (23,000 ) Borrowings under revolving line of credit 23,000 23,000 Issuance of long-term debt 300,000 300,000 Repayments under long-term debt (360 ) (360 ) Payment of financing costs (4,765 ) (4,765 ) Repurchase of common stock (8,473 ) (8,473 ) Distribution to parent (6,387 ) 6,387 — Distribution to noncontrolling interest (1,597 ) (1,597 ) Payment of contingent consideration liability — (123 ) — (123 ) Intercompany financing activities (49,789 ) 15,924 33,865 — Net cash provided (used) by financing activities 236,973 7,940 (483 ) 40,252 284,682 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 342 (129 ) (93 ) 120 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 104,602 (4,523 ) (211 ) — 99,868 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 19,238 11,693 1,466 — 32,397 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 123,840 $ 7,170 $ 1,255 $ — $ 132,265 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS Six Months Ended March 25, 2017 (in thousands) Parent Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net cash (used) provided by operating activities $ (43,383 ) $ (7,352 ) $ (41,431 ) $ (4,076 ) $ (96,242 ) Additions to property, plant and equipment (4,357 ) (413 ) (22,024 ) — (26,794 ) Payments to acquire companies, net of cash acquired (60,042 ) — — (60,042 ) Change in restricted cash and cash equivalents (78 ) — — — (78 ) Proceeds from sale of plant assets 2 8,266 8,268 Investments (2,000 ) (2,000 ) Other investing activities (1,395 ) (1,395 ) Intercompany investing activities (14,089 ) — 50,108 (36,019 ) — Net cash used by investing activities (81,959 ) (413 ) 36,350 (36,019 ) (82,041 ) Repayments under revolving line of credit (115,000 ) — — (115,000 ) Borrowings under revolving line of credit 216,000 — — — 216,000 Repayments under long-term debt (88 ) — (361 ) — (449 ) Issuance of long-term debt — — — — — Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards 13,166 — — — 13,166 Repurchase of common stock (20,172 ) — (20,172 ) Distribution to parent — (4,076 ) — 4,076 — Distribution to noncontrolling interest — (1,019 ) — — (1,019 ) Payment of contingent consideration — — (894 ) — (894 ) Intercompany financing activities (49,895 ) 7,830 6,046 36,019 — Net cash provided (used) by financing activities 44,011 2,735 4,791 40,095 91,632 Effect of exchange rates on cash (335 ) 99 74 — (162 ) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (81,666 ) (4,931 ) (216 ) — (86,813 ) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 82,158 9,695 1,129 — 92,982 Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 492 $ 4,764 $ 913 $ — $ 6,169

Contingencies

Contingencies	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contingencies	Contingencies The Company may from time to time become involved in legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. Currently, the Company is not a party to any legal proceedings that management believes would have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Basis of Presentation (Policies

Basis of Presentation (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Noncontrolling Interest	Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interest in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements represents the 20% interest not owned by Central in a consolidated subsidiary. Since the Company controls this subsidiary, its financial statements are consolidated with those of the Company, and the noncontrolling owner’s 20% share of the subsidiary’s net assets and results of operations is deducted and reported as noncontrolling interest on the consolidated balance sheets and as net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 8, Supplemental Equity Information, for additional information.
Restricted Cash	Restricted Cash Restricted cash includes cash and highly liquid instruments that are used as collateral for stand-alone letter of credit agreements related to normal business transactions. These agreements require the Company to maintain specified amounts of cash as collateral in segregated accounts to support the letters of credit issued thereunder, which will affect the amount of cash the Company has available for other uses. The amount of cash collateral in these segregated accounts was approximately $13.9 million , $11.0 million and $12.6 million as of March 31, 2018 , March 25, 2017 and September 30, 2017 , respectively, and is reflected in restricted cash on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements and U.S. Tax Reform Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted Stock Based Compensation In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, Stock Compensation , which is intended to simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions. ASU 2016-09 (i) requires all income tax effects of awards to be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled, (ii) requires classification of excess tax benefits as an operating activity in the statement of cash flows rather than a financing activity, (iii) eliminates the requirement to defer recognition of an excess tax benefit until the benefit is realized through a reduction to taxes payable, (iv) modifies statutory withholding tax requirements and (v) provides for a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur. The Company adopted ASU 2016-09 on October 1, 2017. As a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-09, the Company now records excess tax benefits currently in its provision for income taxes. Upon adoption, the Company determined it had no previously unrecognized excess tax benefits. Additionally, the Company elected to account for forfeitures as they occur using a modified retrospective transition method, which requires the Company to record a cumulative-effect adjustment to accumulated earnings, and the Company determined that the cumulative impact was immaterial. The Company presents its excess tax benefits as a component of operating cash flows rather than financing cash flows on a prospective basis. Inventory Measurement In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11 (ASU 2015-11), Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory . Under ASU 2015-11, inventory will be measured at the “lower of cost and net realizable value” and options that currently exist for “market value” will be eliminated. The standard defines net realizable value as the “estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation.” No other changes were made to the current guidance on inventory measurement. The Company adopted ASU 2015-11 on October 1, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted Revenue Recognition In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 (ASU 2014-09), Revenue from Contracts with Customers . This update was issued as Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606. The core principle of this amendment is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. On July 9, 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for one year. ASU 2014-09 is now effective for the Company in the first quarter of its fiscal year ending September 28, 2019. The guidance permits two implementation approaches, one requiring retrospective application of the new standard with restatement of prior years and one requiring prospective application of the new standard with disclosure of results under old standards. The Company expects to adopt under the modified retrospective approach, which recognizes the cumulative effect of adoption as an adjustment to retained earnings at the date of initial application. The Company has made progress on its evaluation of the amended guidance, including identification of revenue streams and customer contract reviews. The Company is applying the five-step model to those contracts and revenue streams to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative impacts the new standard will have on its business and reported revenues. Additionally, the Company is also analyzing the impact of the new standard on its current accounting policies and internal controls. Upon completion of these and other assessments, the Company will evaluate the impact of adopting the new standard on its consolidated financial statements. Leases In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 (ASU 2016-02), Leases (Topic 842) . ASU 2016-02 requires companies to generally recognize on the balance sheet operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets. ASU 2016-02 is effective for the Company in its first quarter of fiscal 2020 on a modified retrospective basis and earlier adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of its pending adoption of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial statements, and it currently expects that most of its operating lease commitments will be subject to the new standard and the Company will record material operating lease liabilities and right-of-use assets upon the adoption of ASU 2016-02 . Statement of Cash Flows In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (ASU 2016-15) . The ASU provides additional clarification guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective for the Company in the first quarter of its fiscal year ending September 28, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2016-15 will have on its consolidated financial statements. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force) (ASU 2016-18) . This ASU clarifies the presentation of restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. Amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning and ending cash balances on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, or the Company's first quarter of fiscal 2019. The Company held restricted cash balances of $13.9 million , $11.0 million and $12.6 million as of March 31, 2018 , March 25, 2017 and September 30, 2017 , respectively. The Company does not anticipate the adoption of ASU 2016-18 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Business Combinations In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business (ASU 2017-01), which requires an evaluation of whether substantially all of the fair value of assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If so, the transaction does not qualify as a business. The guidance also requires an acquired business to include at least one substantive process and narrows the definition of outputs. The Company is required to apply this guidance to annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods, or the Company's first quarter of fiscal 2019. The adoption of this ASC may have an impact on accounting for any future acquisitions the Company may have. Goodwill In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment . The new guidance simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by removing the second step of the two-step impairment test. The amendment requires an entity to perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. The new guidance is effective for annual periods or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, or the Company's first quarter of fiscal 2021. The amendment should be applied on a prospective basis. Based on the Company's most recent annual goodwill impairment test performed as of June 25, 2017, there were no reporting units for which the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeded its fair value; therefore, this ASU would not currently have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. However, if upon adoption the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company would be impacted by the amount of impairment recognized.
Goodwill	Goodwill In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment . The new guidance simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by removing the second step of the two-step impairment test. The amendment requires an entity to perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. The new guidance is effective for annual periods or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, or the Company's first quarter of fiscal 2021. The amendment should be applied on a prospective basis. Based on the Company's most recent annual goodwill impairment test performed as of June 25, 2017, there were no reporting units for which the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeded its fair value; therefore, this ASU would not currently have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. However, if upon adoption the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company would be impacted by the amount of impairment recognized. Goodwill The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually (as of the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter), or whenever events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount, by first assessing qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If it is determined that it is more likely than not the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, it is unnecessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. If it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the two-step test is performed to identify potential goodwill impairment. Based on certain circumstances, the Company may elect to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to performing the first step of the two-step goodwill impairment test, which compares the fair value of the Company’s reporting units to their related carrying values, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the Company performs an additional step to determine the implied fair value of goodwill associated with that reporting unit. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by first allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities and then computing the excess of the reporting unit’s fair value over the amounts assigned to the assets and liabilities. If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of goodwill, such excess represents the amount of goodwill impairment, and, accordingly, the Company recognizes such impairment. The Company’s goodwill impairment analysis also includes a comparison of the aggregate estimated fair value of its two reporting units to the Company’s total market capitalization.
Fair Value Measurement	Fair Value Measurements ASC 820 establishes a single authoritative definition of fair value, a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure of fair value measurements. ASC 820 requires financial assets and liabilities to be categorized based on the inputs used to calculate their fair values as follows: Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 3 - Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk). The Company’s financial instruments include cash and equivalents, short term investments consisting of bank certificates of deposit, accounts receivable and payable, derivative instruments, short-term borrowings, and accrued liabilities. The carrying amount of these instruments approximates fair value because of their short-term nature.

Fair Value Measurements (Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Summary of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis	The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis based upon the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall, as of March 31, 2018 (in thousands): Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Liabilities: Liability for contingent consideration (a) $ — $ — $ 9,148 $ 9,148 Total liabilities $ — $ — $ 9,148 $ 9,148 The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis based upon the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall, as of March 25, 2017 (in thousands): Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Liabilities: Liability for contingent consideration (a) $ — $ — $ 4,420 $ 4,420 Total liabilities $ — $ — $ 4,420 $ 4,420 The following table presents our financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis based upon the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall, as of September 30, 2017 : Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Liabilities: Liability for contingent consideration (a) $ — $ — $ 9,343 $ 9,343 Total liabilities $ — $ — $ 9,343 $ 9,343 (a) The liability for contingent consideration relates to an earn-out for B2E, acquired in December 2012, future performance-based contingent payments for Hydro-Organics Wholesale, Inc., acquired in October 2015, and future performance-based contingent payment for Segrest, Inc., acquired in October 2016. The fair value of the estimated contingent consideration arrangement is determined based on the Company’s evaluation as to the probability and amount of any earn-out that will be achieved based on expected future performance by the acquired entity. This is presented as part of long-term liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.
Summary of Changes in Fair Value of Level 3 Financial Instruments	The following table provides a summary of the changes in fair value of the Company's Level 3 financial instruments for the periods ended March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017 (in thousands): Amount Balance September 30, 2017 $ 9,343 Estimated contingent performance-based consideration established at the time of acquisition — Changes in the fair value of contingent performance-based payments established at the time of acquisition (72 ) Performance-based payments (123 ) Balance March 31, 2018 $ 9,148 Amount Balance September 24, 2016 $ 5,113 Estimated contingent performance-based consideration established at the time of acquisition — Changes in the fair value of contingent performance-based payments established at the time of acquisition 201 Performance-based payments (894 ) Balance March 25, 2017 $ 4,420

Acquisitions (Tables)

Acquisitions (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Summary of Recording of Fair Values of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed	The following table summarizes the purchase price and recording of fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date and subsequent adjustments. In thousands Amounts Previously Recognized as of Acquisition Date (1) Measurement Period Adjustments Amounts Recognized as of Acquisition Date (as Adjusted) Current assets, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired $ 5,439 $ 613 $ 6,052 Land, buildings, improvements and equipment - net 315 — 315 Goodwill — 11,968 11,968 Other assets 41,781 (41,781 ) — Other intangible assets - net — 29,200 29,200 Current liabilities (757 ) — (757 ) Net assets acquired, less cash and cash equivalents $ 46,778 $ — $ 46,778 (1) As previously reported in the Company's Form 10-Q for the periods ended June 24, 2017 and December 30, 2017, and the Company's Form 10-K for the period ended September 30, 2017.

Inventories, net (Tables)

Inventories, net (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Summary of Inventories, Net of Allowance for Obsolescence	Inventories, net of allowance for obsolescence, consist of the following (in thousands): March 31, 2018 March 25, 2017 September 30, 2017 Raw materials $ 117,370 $ 122,029 $ 116,591 Work in progress 40,491 21,636 16,394 Finished goods 293,988 273,752 241,420 Supplies 13,673 8,968 7,696 Total inventories, net $ 465,522 $ 426,385 $ 382,101

Other Intangible Assets (Tables

Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Components of Gross and Net Acquired Intangible Assets	The following table summarizes the components of gross and net acquired intangible assets: Gross Accumulated Amortization Accumulated Impairment Net Carrying Value (in millions) March 31, 2018 Marketing-related intangible assets – amortizable $ 16.9 $ (13.4 ) $ — $ 3.5 Marketing-related intangible assets – nonamortizable 70.6 — (26.0 ) 44.6 Total 87.5 (13.4 ) (26.0 ) 48.1 Customer-related intangible assets – amortizable 115.7 (37.5 ) 78.2 Other acquired intangible assets – amortizable 22.1 (13.5 ) 8.6 Other acquired intangible assets – nonamortizable 7.8 (1.2 ) 6.6 Total 29.9 (13.5 ) (1.2 ) 15.2 Total other intangible assets $ 233.1 $ (64.4 ) $ (27.2 ) $ 141.5 Gross Accumulated Amortization Accumulated Impairment Net Carrying Value (in millions) March 25, 2017 Marketing-related intangible assets – amortizable $ 14.9 $ (11.7 ) $ — $ 3.2 Marketing-related intangible assets – nonamortizable 62.7 — (26.0 ) 36.7 Total 77.6 (11.7 ) (26.0 ) 39.9 Customer-related intangible assets – amortizable 64.3 (28.0 ) — 36.3 Other acquired intangible assets – amortizable 20.8 (12.2 ) — 8.6 Other acquired intangible assets – nonamortizable 7.8 — (1.2 ) 6.6 Total 28.6 (12.2 ) (1.2 ) 15.2 Total other intangible assets $ 170.5 $ (51.9 ) $ (27.2 ) $ 91.4 Gross Accumulated Amortization Accumulated Impairment Net Carrying Value (in millions) September 30, 2017 Marketing-related intangible assets – amortizable $ 16.9 $ (12.7 ) $ — $ 4.2 Marketing-related intangible assets – nonamortizable 62.7 — (26.0 ) 36.7 Total 79.6 (12.7 ) (26.0 ) 40.9 Customer-related intangible assets – amortizable 91.6 (32.2 ) — 59.4 Other acquired intangible assets – amortizable 22.1 (12.9 ) — 9.2 Other acquired intangible assets – nonamortizable 7.8 — (1.2 ) 6.6 Total 29.9 (12.9 ) (1.2 ) 15.8 Total other intangible assets $ 201.1 $ (57.8 ) $ (27.2 ) $ 116.1

Long-Term Debt (Tables)

Long-Term Debt (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Components of Long-Term Debt	Long-term debt consists of the following: March 31, 2018 March 25, 2017 September 30, 2017 (in thousands) Senior notes, interest at 6.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due November 2023 $ 400,000 $ 400,000 $ 400,000 Senior notes, interest at 5.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due February 2028 300,000 — — Unamortized debt issuance costs (9,053 ) (5,237 ) (4,840 ) Net carrying value 690,947 394,763 395,160 Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 — 101,000 — Other notes payable 157 481 493 Total 691,104 496,244 395,653 Less current portion (20 ) (374 ) (375 ) Long-term portion $ 691,084 $ 495,870 $ 395,278

Supplemental Equity Informati26

Supplemental Equity Information (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Equity [Abstract]
Summary of Changes in Carrying Amounts of Equity Attributable to Controlling Interest and Noncontrolling Interest	The following table provides a summary of the changes in the carrying amounts of equity attributable to controlling interest and noncontrolling interest for the six months ended March 31, 2018 and March 25, 2017 . Controlling Interest (in thousands) Common Stock Class A Common Stock Class B Stock Additional Paid In Capital Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Total Noncontrolling Interest Total Balance September 30, 2017 $ 122 $ 380 $ 16 $ 396,790 $ 239,329 $ (951 ) $ 635,686 $ 1,456 $ 637,142 Comprehensive income 71,481 278 71,759 735 72,494 Amortization of share-based awards 4,464 4,464 4,464 Restricted share activity, including net share settlement (1 ) (6,270 ) (6,271 ) (6,271 ) Issuance of common stock, including net share settlement of stock options 2 (1,132 ) (1,130 ) (1,130 ) Distribution to Noncontrolling interest (1,597 ) (1,597 ) Balance March 31, 2018 $ 121 $ 382 $ 16 $ 393,852 $ 310,810 $ (673 ) $ 704,508 $ 594 $ 705,102 Controlling Interest (in thousands) Common Stock Class A Common Stock Class B Stock Additional Paid In Capital Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Total Noncontrolling Interest Total Balance September 24, 2016 $ 120 $ 374 $ 16 $ 393,297 $ 160,501 $ (1,294 ) $ 553,014 $ 1,573 $ 554,587 Comprehensive income 42,321 (364 ) 41,957 717 42,674 Amortization of share-based awards 4,222 4,222 4,222 Restricted share activity, including net share settlement (1 ) (5,501 ) (5,502 ) (5,502 ) Issuance of common stock, including net share settlement of stock options 2 4 (13,619 ) (13,613 ) (13,613 ) Tax benefit on stock option exercise, net of tax deficiency 13,142 13,142 13,142 Distribution to Noncontrolling interest (1,019 ) (1,019 ) Balance March 25, 2017 $ 122 $ 377 $ 16 $ 391,541 $ 202,822 $ (1,658 ) $ 593,220 $ 1,271 $ 594,491

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted per share computations for income from continuing operations. Three Months Ended Six Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2018 Income Shares Per Share Income Shares Per Share Basic EPS: Net income available to common shareholders $ 45,234 50,871 $ 0.89 $ 71,481 50,816 $ 1.41 Effect of dilutive securities: Options to purchase common stock 1,092 (0.02 ) 1,120 (0.03 ) Restricted shares 695 (0.01 ) 757 (0.02 ) Diluted EPS: Net income available to common shareholders $ 45,234 52,658 $ 0.86 $ 71,481 52,693 $ 1.36 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended March 25, 2017 March 25, 2017 Income Shares Per Share Income Shares Per Share Basic EPS: Net income available to common shareholders $ 34,684 50,079 $ 0.69 $ 42,321 49,872 $ 0.85 Effect of dilutive securities: Options to purchase common stock 1,156 (0.01 ) 1,273 (0.02 ) Restricted shares 748 (0.01 ) 766 (0.01 ) Diluted EPS: Net income available to common shareholders $ 34,684 51,983 $ 0.67 $ 42,321 51,911 $ 0.82

Segment Information (Tables)

Segment Information (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Financial Information Relating to Company's Business Segments	These operating segments are Pet segment and Garden segment and are presented in the table below (in thousands). Three Months Ended Six Months Ended March 31, March 25, March 31, March 25, Net sales: Pet segment $ 321,653 $ 298,393 $ 646,737 $ 602,439 Garden segment 291,441 271,531 408,368 386,983 Total net sales $ 613,094 $ 569,924 $ 1,055,105 $ 989,422 Operating Income Pet segment 32,784 34,645 68,960 68,051 Garden segment 50,746 46,005 53,046 48,681 Corporate (17,744 ) (16,790 ) (33,699 ) (32,934 ) Total operating income 65,786 63,860 88,307 83,798 Interest expense - net (9,882 ) (6,822 ) (17,100 ) (13,657 ) Other income (expense) 1,505 (965 ) (1,584 ) (1,932 ) Income tax expense (benefit) 11,643 20,824 (2,593 ) 25,171 Income including noncontrolling interest 45,766 35,249 72,216 43,038 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 532 565 735 717 Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 45,234 $ 34,684 $ 71,481 $ 42,321 Depreciation and amortization: Pet segment $ 6,944 6,174 $ 14,089 $ 12,004 Garden segment 1,707 1,528 3,276 3,035 Corporate 2,471 2,633 4,920 5,305 Total depreciation and amortization $ 11,122 $ 10,335 $ 22,285 $ 20,344 March 31, March 25, September 30, Assets: Pet segment $ 660,344 $ 612,189 $ 612,337 Garden segment 581,105 478,919 311,026 Corporate 462,514 277,356 383,543 Total assets $ 1,703,963 $ 1,368,464 $ 1,306,906 Goodwill (included in corporate assets above): Pet segment $ 262,770 $ 224,912 $ 250,802 Garden segment 5,473 5,473 5,473 Total goodwill $ 268,243 $ 230,385 $ 256,275

Consolidating Condensed Finan29

Consolidating Condensed Financial Information of Guarantor Subsidiaries (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Condensed Financial Information of Parent Company Only Disclosure [Abstract]
Consolidating Condensed Statement of Operations	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net sales $ 195,464 $ 32,433 $ 412,348 $ (27,151 ) $ 613,094 Cost of goods sold and occupancy 151,868 24,192 268,072 (25,495 ) 418,637 Gross profit 43,596 8,241 144,276 (1,656 ) 194,457 Selling, general and administrative expenses 41,677 6,532 82,118 (1,656 ) 128,671 Operating income (loss) 1,919 1,709 62,158 — 65,786 Interest expense (10,510 ) (62 ) (3 ) (10,575 ) Interest income 692 1 — 693 Other (expense) income 1,108 200 197 1,505 Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates (6,791 ) 1,848 62,352 — 57,409 Income tax expense (benefit) (13,753 ) (1,549 ) 26,945 11,643 Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates 38,272 — 3,841 (42,113 ) — Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest 45,234 3,397 39,248 (42,113 ) 45,766 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest — 532 — — 532 Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 45,234 $ 2,865 $ 39,248 $ (42,113 ) $ 45,234 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Three Months Ended March 25, 2017 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net sales $ 190,791 $ 26,092 $ 378,673 $ (25,632 ) $ 569,924 Cost of goods sold and occupancy 145,593 20,128 244,680 (24,006 ) 386,395 Gross profit 45,198 5,964 133,993 (1,626 ) 183,529 Selling, general and administrative expenses 39,347 4,874 77,074 (1,626 ) 119,669 Operating income (loss) 5,851 1,090 56,919 — 63,860 Interest expense (6,759 ) (65 ) (6 ) — (6,830 ) Interest income 7 1 — — 8 Other expense (737 ) (194 ) (34 ) — (965 ) Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates (1,638 ) 832 56,879 — 56,073 Income tax expense (benefit) (718 ) 448 21,094 — 20,824 Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates 35,604 — 384 (35,988 ) — Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest 34,684 384 36,169 (35,988 ) 35,249 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest — 565 — — 565 Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 34,684 $ (181 ) $ 36,169 $ (35,988 ) $ 34,684 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Six Months Ended March 31, 2018 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net sales $ 354,525 $ 46,176 $ 698,772 $ (44,368 ) $ 1,055,105 Cost of goods sold and occupancy 277,347 36,008 457,123 (41,667 ) 728,811 Gross profit 77,178 10,168 241,649 (2,701 ) 326,294 Selling, general and administrative expenses 78,316 10,437 151,935 (2,701 ) 237,987 Operating income (1,138 ) (269 ) 89,714 — 88,307 Interest expense (17,895 ) (78 ) (7 ) — (17,980 ) Interest income 878 2 — — 880 Other income (expense) (1,810 ) 254 (28 ) — (1,584 ) Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates (19,965 ) (91 ) 89,679 — 69,623 Income tax expense (benefit) 672 (267 ) (2,998 ) — (2,593 ) Equity in earnings of affiliates 92,118 — 941 (93,059 ) — Net income including noncontrolling interest 71,481 176 93,618 (93,059 ) 72,216 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest — 735 — — 735 Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 71,481 $ (559 ) $ 93,618 $ (93,059 ) $ 71,481 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS Six Months Ended March 25, 2017 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net sales $ 346,309 $ 40,116 $ 645,111 $ (42,114 ) $ 989,422 Cost of goods sold and occupancy 266,729 31,806 426,120 (39,440 ) 685,215 Gross profit 79,580 8,310 218,991 (2,674 ) 304,207 Selling, general and administrative expenses 75,312 8,538 139,233 (2,674 ) 220,409 Operating income (loss) 4,268 (228 ) 79,758 — 83,798 Interest expense (13,610 ) (82 ) (11 ) — (13,703 ) Interest income 45 1 — — 46 Other income (expense) (1,340 ) (387 ) (205 ) — (1,932 ) Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates (10,637 ) (696 ) 79,542 — 68,209 Income tax expense (benefit) (3,910 ) 37 29,044 — 25,171 Equity in earnings of affiliates 49,048 — (427 ) (48,621 ) — Net income including noncontrolling interest 42,321 (733 ) 50,071 (48,621 ) 43,038 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest — 717 — — 717 Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 42,321 $ (1,450 ) $ 50,071 $ (48,621 ) $ 42,321
Consolidating Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net income (loss) $ 45,234 $ 3,397 $ 39,248 $ (42,113 ) $ 45,766 Other comprehensive income (loss): Foreign currency translation 234 206 (48 ) (158 ) 234 Total comprehensive income (loss) 45,468 3,603 39,200 (42,271 ) 46,000 Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests — 532 — — 532 Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 45,468 $ 3,071 $ 39,200 $ (42,271 ) $ 45,468 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Three Months Ended March 25, 2017 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net income (loss) $ 34,684 $ 384 $ 36,169 $ (35,988 ) $ 35,249 Other comprehensive loss: Foreign currency translation 144 95 20 (115 ) 144 Total comprehensive income (loss) 34,828 479 36,189 (36,103 ) 35,393 Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests — 565 — — 565 Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 34,828 $ (86 ) $ 36,189 $ (36,103 ) $ 34,828 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Six Months Ended March 31, 2018 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net income (loss) $ 71,481 $ 176 $ 93,618 $ (93,059 ) $ 72,216 Other comprehensive loss: — — — — Foreign currency translation 278 249 (64 ) (185 ) 278 Total comprehensive income (loss) 71,759 425 93,554 (93,244 ) 72,494 Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests — 735 — — 735 Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 71,759 $ (310 ) $ 93,554 $ (93,244 ) $ 71,759 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Six Months Ended March 25, 2017 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net income (loss) $ 42,321 $ (733 ) $ 50,071 $ (48,621 ) $ 43,038 Other comprehensive income (loss): Foreign currency translation (364 ) (260 ) (30 ) 290 (364 ) Total comprehensive income (loss) 41,957 (993 ) 50,041 (48,331 ) 42,674 Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests — 717 — — 717 Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company $ 41,957 $ (1,710 ) $ 50,041 $ (48,331 ) $ 41,957
Consolidating Condensed Balance Sheet	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET March 31, 2018 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 123,840 $ 7,170 $ 1,255 $ — $ 132,265 Restricted cash 13,948 — — — 13,948 Accounts receivable, net 132,218 19,938 242,995 — 395,151 Inventories 137,108 43,438 284,976 — 465,522 Prepaid expenses and other 6,157 2,086 18,434 — 26,677 Total current assets 413,271 72,632 547,660 — 1,033,563 Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net 35,314 34,632 140,617 210,563 Goodwill 15,058 — 253,185 268,243 Other long-term assets 56,612 14,642 132,916 (12,576 ) 191,594 Intercompany receivable 54,117 — 610,760 (664,877 ) — Investment in subsidiaries 1,539,309 — — (1,539,309 ) — Total $ 2,113,681 $ 121,906 $ 1,685,138 $ (2,216,762 ) $ 1,703,963 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Accounts payable $ 48,659 $ 19,752 $ 82,564 $ — $ 150,975 Accrued expenses 63,951 5,303 47,160 — 116,414 Current portion of long-term debt — — 20 — 20 Total current liabilities 112,610 25,055 129,744 — 267,409 Long-term debt 690,947 — 137 691,084 Intercompany payable 597,619 67,258 — (664,877 ) — Losses in excess of investment in subsidiaries — — 25,228 (25,228 ) — Other long-term obligations 7,997 — 44,947 (12,576 ) 40,368 Total Central Garden & Pet shareholders’ equity (deficit) 704,508 28,999 1,485,082 (1,514,081 ) 704,508 Noncontrolling interest — 594 — — 594 Total equity (deficit) 704,508 29,593 1,485,082 (1,514,081 ) 705,102 Total $ 2,113,681 $ 121,906 $ 1,685,138 $ (2,216,762 ) $ 1,703,963 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET March 25, 2017 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 492 $ 4,764 $ 913 $ — $ 6,169 Restricted cash 10,988 — — — 10,988 Accounts receivable, net 113,600 14,366 215,236 — 343,202 Inventories 138,493 16,901 270,991 — 426,385 Prepaid expenses and other 7,701 813 15,096 — 23,610 Total current assets 271,274 36,844 502,236 — 810,354 Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net 38,932 4,045 132,963 — 175,940 Goodwill 15,058 — 215,327 — 230,385 Other long-term assets 40,704 3,381 127,924 (20,224 ) 151,785 Intercompany receivable 44,957 — 511,319 (556,276 ) — Investment in subsidiaries 1,287,126 — — (1,287,126 ) — Total $ 1,698,051 $ 44,270 $ 1,489,769 $ (1,863,626 ) $ 1,368,464 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Accounts payable $ 51,357 $ 11,199 $ 79,235 $ — $ 141,791 Accrued expenses 53,301 2,131 45,989 — 101,421 Current portion of long-term debt — — 374 — 374 Total current liabilities 104,658 13,330 125,598 — 243,586 Long-term debt 495,762 — 108 — 495,870 Intercompany payable 501,993 54,283 — (556,276 ) — Losses in excess of investment in subsidiaries — — 20,629 (20,629 ) — Other long-term obligations 2,418 — 52,323 (20,224 ) 34,517 Total Central Garden & Pet shareholders’ equity (deficit) 593,220 (24,614 ) 1,291,111 (1,266,497 ) 593,220 Noncontrolling interest — 1,271 — — 1,271 Total equity (deficit) 593,220 (23,343 ) 1,291,111 (1,266,497 ) 594,491 Total $ 1,698,051 $ 44,270 $ 1,489,769 $ (1,863,626 ) $ 1,368,464 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET September 30, 2017 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 19,238 $ 11,693 $ 1,466 $ — $ 32,397 Restricted cash 12,645 — — — 12,645 Accounts receivable, net 78,692 5,586 153,590 — 237,868 Inventories 125,797 9,493 246,811 — 382,101 Prepaid expenses and other assets 6,059 811 11,175 — 18,045 Total current assets 242,431 27,583 413,042 — 683,056 Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net 38,170 4,225 138,518 — 180,913 Goodwill 15,058 — 241,217 — 256,275 Other long-term assets 61,715 2,376 146,372 (23,801 ) 186,662 Intercompany receivable 36,606 — 662,137 (698,743 ) — Investment in subsidiaries 1,383,633 — — (1,383,633 ) — Total $ 1,777,613 $ 34,184 $ 1,601,286 $ (2,106,177 ) $ 1,306,906 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Accounts payable $ 36,760 $ 3,076 $ 63,447 $ — $ 103,283 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 54,909 2,391 59,249 — 116,549 Current portion of long term debt — — 375 — 375 Total current liabilities 91,669 5,467 123,071 — 220,207 Long-term debt 395,160 — 118 — 395,278 Intercompany payable 647,409 51,334 — (698,743 ) — Losses in excess of investment in subsidiaries — — 19,782 (19,782 ) — Other long-term obligations 7,689 — 70,391 (23,801 ) 54,279 Total Central Garden & Pet shareholders’ equity (deficit) 635,686 (24,073 ) 1,387,924 (1,363,851 ) 635,686 Noncontrolling interest — 1,456 — — 1,456 Total equity (deficit) 635,686 (22,617 ) 1,387,924 (1,363,851 ) 637,142 Total $ 1,777,613 $ 34,184 $ 1,601,286 $ (2,106,177 ) $ 1,306,906
Consolidating Condensed Statement of Cash Flows	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS Six Months Ended March 31, 2018 (in thousands) Parent Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net cash provided (used) by operating activities $ (36,868 ) $ (11,840 ) $ (38,863 ) $ (6,387 ) $ (93,958 ) Additions to property and equipment (4,923 ) (494 ) (12,149 ) (17,566 ) Payments to acquire companies, net of cash acquired (63,372 ) (63,372 ) Change in restricted cash and cash equivalents (1,303 ) (1,303 ) Investments (6,555 ) (6,555 ) Other investing activities (2,180 ) — — — (2,180 ) Intercompany investing activities (17,512 ) 51,377 (33,865 ) — Net cash used by investing activities (95,845 ) (494 ) 39,228 (33,865 ) (90,976 ) Repayments on revolving line of credit (23,000 ) (23,000 ) Borrowings under revolving line of credit 23,000 23,000 Issuance of long-term debt 300,000 300,000 Repayments under long-term debt (360 ) (360 ) Payment of financing costs (4,765 ) (4,765 ) Repurchase of common stock (8,473 ) (8,473 ) Distribution to parent (6,387 ) 6,387 — Distribution to noncontrolling interest (1,597 ) (1,597 ) Payment of contingent consideration liability — (123 ) — (123 ) Intercompany financing activities (49,789 ) 15,924 33,865 — Net cash provided (used) by financing activities 236,973 7,940 (483 ) 40,252 284,682 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 342 (129 ) (93 ) 120 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 104,602 (4,523 ) (211 ) — 99,868 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 19,238 11,693 1,466 — 32,397 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 123,840 $ 7,170 $ 1,255 $ — $ 132,265 CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS Six Months Ended March 25, 2017 (in thousands) Parent Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries Guarantor Subsidiaries Eliminations Consolidated Net cash (used) provided by operating activities $ (43,383 ) $ (7,352 ) $ (41,431 ) $ (4,076 ) $ (96,242 ) Additions to property, plant and equipment (4,357 ) (413 ) (22,024 ) — (26,794 ) Payments to acquire companies, net of cash acquired (60,042 ) — — (60,042 ) Change in restricted cash and cash equivalents (78 ) — — — (78 ) Proceeds from sale of plant assets 2 8,266 8,268 Investments (2,000 ) (2,000 ) Other investing activities (1,395 ) (1,395 ) Intercompany investing activities (14,089 ) — 50,108 (36,019 ) — Net cash used by investing activities (81,959 ) (413 ) 36,350 (36,019 ) (82,041 ) Repayments under revolving line of credit (115,000 ) — — (115,000 ) Borrowings under revolving line of credit 216,000 — — — 216,000 Repayments under long-term debt (88 ) — (361 ) — (449 ) Issuance of long-term debt — — — — — Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards 13,166 — — — 13,166 Repurchase of common stock (20,172 ) — (20,172 ) Distribution to parent — (4,076 ) — 4,076 — Distribution to noncontrolling interest — (1,019 ) — — (1,019 ) Payment of contingent consideration — — (894 ) — (894 ) Intercompany financing activities (49,895 ) 7,830 6,046 36,019 — Net cash provided (used) by financing activities 44,011 2,735 4,791 40,095 91,632 Effect of exchange rates on cash (335 ) 99 74 — (162 ) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (81,666 ) (4,931 ) (216 ) — (86,813 ) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 82,158 9,695 1,129 — 92,982 Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 492 $ 4,764 $ 913 $ — $ 6,169

Basis of Presentation - Narrati

Basis of Presentation - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 25, 2017
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Restricted cash		$ 13,948	$ 12,645	$ 10,988
Provisional tax benefit due to Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017	$ 16,300
Subsidiaries
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest owned by the subsidiary		20.00%

Fair Value Measurements - Summa

Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 25, 2017
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	$ 9,148	$ 9,343	$ 4,420
Liability for contingent consideration
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	9,148	9,343	4,420
Level 1
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	0	0	0
Level 1 | Liability for contingent consideration
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	0	0	0
Level 2
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	0	0	0
Level 2 | Liability for contingent consideration
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	0	0	0
Level 3
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	9,148	9,343	4,420
Level 3 | Liability for contingent consideration
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	$ 9,148	$ 9,343	$ 4,420

Fair Value Measurements - Sum32

Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Changes in Fair Value of Level 3 Financial Instruments (Details) - Level 3 - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 9,343	$ 5,113
Estimated contingent performance-based consideration established at the time of acquisition	0	0
Changes in the fair value of contingent performance-based payments established at the time of acquisition	(72)	201
Performance-based payments	(123)	(894)
Ending balance	$ 9,148	$ 4,420

Fair Value Measurements - Narra

Fair Value Measurements - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017	Dec. 14, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 25, 2017	Nov. 30, 2015
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Carrying value of senior subordinated notes	$ 691,104,000			$ 395,653,000	$ 496,244,000
Senior notes
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Carrying value of senior subordinated notes	$ 690,947,000			395,160,000	394,763,000
Senior notes | Senior notes, interest at 5.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due February 2028
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt, aggregate principal amount		$ 300,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate stated, percentage	5.125%	5.125%	5.125%
Estimated fair value of senior notes	$ 285,400,000
Carrying value of senior subordinated notes	295,300,000
Senior notes | 6.125% senior notes due in November 2023
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt, aggregate principal amount						$ 400,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate stated, percentage						6.125%
Estimated fair value of senior notes	419,000,000			427,900,000	422,400,000
Carrying value of senior subordinated notes	$ 395,600,000			$ 395,200,000	$ 394,800,000

Acquisitions - Narrative (Detai

Acquisitions - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 12, 2018	Apr. 28, 2017	Jul. 31, 2015
Bell Nursery Holdings, LLC
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, purchase price	$ 62,000
Contingent consideration	10,000
Purchase price exceeded the estimated fair value of assets acquired	$ 12,700
K&H Manufacturing
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, purchase price		$ 48,000
Purchase price exceeded the estimated fair value of assets acquired		41,800
Other intangible assets		29,200	$ 29,200
Goodwill		$ 12,000	$ 11,968

Acquisitions - Summary of Recor

Acquisitions - Summary of Recording of Fair Values of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 28, 2017	Jul. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 25, 2017
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill			$ 268,243	$ 256,275	$ 230,385
K&H Manufacturing
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Current assets, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired		$ 6,052
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment - net		315
Goodwill		11,968
Other assets		0
Other intangible assets - net		29,200
Current liabilities		(757)
Net assets acquired, less cash and cash equivalents		46,778
Measurement Period Adjustments
Current assets, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired		613
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment - net		0
Goodwill	$ 12,000	11,968
Other assets		(41,781)
Other intangible assets - net	$ 29,200	29,200
Current liabilities		0
Net assets acquired, less cash and cash equivalents		0
Amounts Previously Recognized as of Acquisition Date | K&H Manufacturing
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Current assets, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired		5,439
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment - net		315
Goodwill		0
Other assets		41,781
Other intangible assets - net		0
Current liabilities		(757)
Net assets acquired, less cash and cash equivalents		$ 46,778

Inventories, net - Summary of I

Inventories, net - Summary of Inventories, Net of Allowance for Obsolescence (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 25, 2017
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Raw materials	$ 117,370	$ 116,591	$ 122,029
Work in progress	40,491	16,394	21,636
Finished goods	293,988	241,420	273,752
Supplies	13,673	7,696	8,968
Total inventories, net	$ 465,522	$ 382,101	$ 426,385

Goodwill - Narrative (Details)

Goodwill - Narrative (Details)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018Segments
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Number of reporting units	2

Other Intangible Assets - Compo

Other Intangible Assets - Components of Gross and Net Acquired Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 25, 2017
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross	$ 233,100	$ 201,100	$ 170,500
Accumulated Amortization	(64,400)	(57,800)	(51,900)
Accumulated Impairment	(27,200)	(27,200)	(27,200)
Net Carrying Value	141,530	116,067	91,424
Marketing-related intangible assets
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross	87,500	79,600	77,600
Accumulated Amortization	(13,400)	(12,700)	(11,700)
Accumulated Impairment	(26,000)	(26,000)	(26,000)
Net Carrying Value	48,100	40,900	39,900
Other acquired intangible assets
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross	29,900	29,900	28,600
Accumulated Amortization	(13,500)	(12,900)	(12,200)
Accumulated Impairment	(1,200)	(1,200)	(1,200)
Net Carrying Value	15,200	15,800	15,200
Amortizable | Marketing-related intangible assets
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross	16,900	16,900	14,900
Accumulated Amortization	(13,400)	(12,700)	(11,700)
Accumulated Impairment	0	0	0
Net Carrying Value	3,500	4,200	3,200
Amortizable | Customer-related intangible assets
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross	115,700	91,600	64,300
Accumulated Amortization	(37,500)	(32,200)	(28,000)
Accumulated Impairment		0	0
Net Carrying Value	78,200	59,400	36,300
Amortizable | Other acquired intangible assets
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross	22,100	22,100	20,800
Accumulated Amortization	(13,500)	(12,900)	(12,200)
Accumulated Impairment		0	0
Net Carrying Value	8,600	9,200	8,600
Nonamortizable | Marketing-related intangible assets
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross	70,600	62,700	62,700
Accumulated Amortization	0	0	0
Accumulated Impairment	(26,000)	(26,000)	(26,000)
Net Carrying Value	44,600	36,700	36,700
Nonamortizable | Other acquired intangible assets
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross	7,800	7,800	7,800
Accumulated Amortization		0	0
Accumulated Impairment	(1,200)	(1,200)	(1,200)
Net Carrying Value	$ 6,600	$ 6,600	$ 6,600

Other Intangible Assets - Narra

Other Intangible Assets - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization expense for intangibles	$ 2.9	$ 1.4	$ 5.7	$ 2.9
2018 estimated annual amortization expense related to acquired intangible assets	10		10
2019 estimated annual amortization expense related to acquired intangible assets	10		10
2020 estimated annual amortization expense related to acquired intangible assets	10		10
2021 estimated annual amortization expense related to acquired intangible assets	10		10
2022 estimated annual amortization expense related to acquired intangible assets	$ 10		$ 10
Marketing-related intangible assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted average remaining lives of acquired intangible assets			4 years
Customer-related intangible assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted average remaining lives of acquired intangible assets			10 years
Other acquired intangible assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted average remaining lives of acquired intangible assets			11 years
Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted average remaining lives of acquired intangible assets			3 years
Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Weighted average remaining lives of acquired intangible assets			25 years
K&H Manufacturing | Marketing-related intangible assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Other intangible assets, net		7.9		7.9
K&H Manufacturing | Customer-related intangible assets
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Other intangible assets, net		$ 21.3		$ 21.3

Long-Term Debt - Components of

Long-Term Debt - Components of Long-term Debt (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017	Dec. 14, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 25, 2017	Nov. 09, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 691,104,000	$ 691,104,000			$ 395,653,000	$ 496,244,000
Less current portion	(20,000)	(20,000)			(375,000)	(374,000)
Long-term portion	691,084,000	691,084,000			395,278,000	495,870,000
Senior notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(9,053,000)	(9,053,000)			(4,840,000)	(5,237,000)
Total	690,947,000	690,947,000			395,160,000	394,763,000
Senior notes | Senior notes, interest at 6.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due November 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes	$ 400,000,000	$ 400,000,000			400,000,000	400,000,000	$ 400,000,000
Debt instrument maturity period		Nov. 1, 2023
Debt instrument interest rate stated, percentage	6.125%	6.125%					6.125%
Senior notes | Senior notes, interest at 5.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due February 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes	$ 300,000,000	$ 300,000,000		$ 300,000,000	0	0
Total	$ 295,300,000	$ 295,300,000
Debt instrument maturity period		Feb. 1, 2028
Debt instrument interest rate stated, percentage	5.125%	5.125%	5.125%	5.125%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 0	$ 0			0	101,000,000
Debt instrument maturity period		Apr. 1, 2021
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Base rate borrowings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility	0.25%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | LIBOR-based borrowings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility	1.25%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Minimum | Base rate borrowings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility		0.25%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Minimum | LIBOR-based borrowings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility		1.25%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Maximum | Base rate borrowings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility		0.75%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Maximum | LIBOR-based borrowings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility		1.50%
Other notes payable
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total	$ 157,000	$ 157,000			$ 493,000	$ 481,000

Long-Term Debt - Narrative (Det

Long-Term Debt - Narrative (Details)	Dec. 14, 2017USD ($)	Apr. 22, 2016USD ($)	Dec. 26, 2015	Nov. 09, 2015USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018USD ($)	Dec. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017USD ($)	Mar. 25, 2017USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015USD ($)
Letter of credit
Components of long-term debt
Letters of credit outstanding					$ 3,300,000	$ 3,300,000
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021
Components of long-term debt
Maturity date of senior subordinated notes						Apr. 1, 2021
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | LIBOR-based borrowings
Components of long-term debt
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility					1.25%
Applicable interest rate on the credit facility					3.10%	3.10%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Base rate borrowings
Components of long-term debt
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility					0.25%
Applicable interest rate on the credit facility					5.00%	5.00%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Minimum | LIBOR-based borrowings
Components of long-term debt
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility						1.25%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Minimum | Base rate borrowings
Components of long-term debt
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility						0.25%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Maximum | LIBOR-based borrowings
Components of long-term debt
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility						1.50%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Maximum | Base rate borrowings
Components of long-term debt
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility						0.75%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Revolving credit facility
Components of long-term debt
Debt issuance cost					$ 1,200,000	$ 1,200,000
Credit facility, maximum principal amount		$ 400,000,000
Credit facility, additional borrowings available		$ 200,000,000
Line of credit outstanding borrowings					0	0
Letters of credit outstanding					0	0
Credit facility, available capacity					354,300,000	354,300,000
Debt instrument fixed charge coverage ratio		1
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Revolving credit facility | Federal funds rate
Components of long-term debt
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility		0.50%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Revolving credit facility | One-month LIBOR
Components of long-term debt
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility		1.00%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Revolving credit facility | Minimum | LIBOR-based borrowings
Components of long-term debt
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility		1.25%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Revolving credit facility | Minimum | Base rate borrowings
Components of long-term debt
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility		0.25%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Revolving credit facility | Maximum | LIBOR-based borrowings
Components of long-term debt
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility		1.50%
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021 | Revolving credit facility | Maximum | Base rate borrowings
Components of long-term debt
Applicable interest margin rate on the credit facility		0.50%
Senior notes, interest at 5.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due February 2028 | Redemption period one
Components of long-term debt
Debt redemption price percentage	105.125%
Senior notes, interest at 5.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due February 2028 | Redemption period two
Components of long-term debt
Debt redemption price percentage	102.563%
Senior notes, interest at 5.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due February 2028 | Redemption period three
Components of long-term debt
Debt redemption price percentage	101.708%
Senior notes, interest at 5.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due February 2028 | Redemption period four
Components of long-term debt
Debt redemption price percentage	100.854%
Senior notes, interest at 5.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due February 2028 | Redemption period five
Components of long-term debt
Debt redemption price percentage	100.00%
Senior notes, interest at 5.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due February 2028 | Upon change of control
Components of long-term debt
Debt redemption price percentage	101.00%
Senior notes, interest at 5.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due February 2028 | Senior notes
Components of long-term debt
Aggregate principal amount of debt	$ 300,000,000				$ 300,000,000	$ 300,000,000		$ 0	$ 0
Debt instrument interest rate stated, percentage	5.125%				5.125%	5.125%	5.125%
Maturity date of senior subordinated notes						Feb. 1, 2028
Debt issuance cost	$ 4,800,000
Redemption percentage	35.00%
Senior notes, interest at 6.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due November 2023
Components of long-term debt
Redemption percentage				35.00%
Senior notes, interest at 6.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due November 2023 | Redemption period one
Components of long-term debt
Debt redemption price percentage				106.125%
Senior notes, interest at 6.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due November 2023 | Redemption period two
Components of long-term debt
Debt redemption price percentage				104.594%
Senior notes, interest at 6.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due November 2023 | Redemption period three
Components of long-term debt
Debt redemption price percentage				103.063%
Senior notes, interest at 6.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due November 2023 | Redemption period four
Components of long-term debt
Debt redemption price percentage				101.531%
Senior notes, interest at 6.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due November 2023 | Redemption period five
Components of long-term debt
Debt redemption price percentage				100.00%
Senior notes, interest at 6.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due November 2023 | Upon change of control
Components of long-term debt
Debt redemption price percentage				101.00%
Senior notes, interest at 6.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due November 2023 | Senior notes
Components of long-term debt
Aggregate principal amount of debt				$ 400,000,000	$ 400,000,000	$ 400,000,000		$ 400,000,000	$ 400,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate stated, percentage				6.125%	6.125%	6.125%
Maturity date of senior subordinated notes						Nov. 1, 2023
Debt issuance cost				$ 6,300,000
Senior subordinated notes, interest at 8.25%, payable semi-annually, principal due march 2018 | Senior notes
Components of long-term debt
Aggregate principal amount of debt										$ 400,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate stated, percentage										8.25%
Maturity date of senior subordinated notes						Mar. 1, 2018
Senior subordinated notes, interest at 8.25%, payable semi-annually, principal due march 2018 | Senior subordinated notes
Components of long-term debt
Debt redemption price percentage			102.063%

Supplemental Equity Informati42

Supplemental Equity Information - Summary of Changes in Carrying Amounts of Equity Attributable to Controlling Interest and Noncontrolling Interest (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 637,142	$ 554,587
Comprehensive income	$ 46,000	$ 35,393	72,494	42,674
Amortization of share-based awards			4,464	4,222
Restricted share activity, including net share settlement			(6,271)	(5,502)
Issuance of common stock, including net share settlement of stock options			(1,130)	(13,613)
Tax benefit on stock option exercise, net of tax deficiency				13,142
Distribution to Noncontrolling interest			(1,597)	(1,019)
Ending balance	705,102	594,491	705,102	594,491
Total
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			635,686	553,014
Comprehensive income			71,759	41,957
Amortization of share-based awards			4,464	4,222
Restricted share activity, including net share settlement			(6,271)	(5,502)
Issuance of common stock, including net share settlement of stock options			(1,130)	(13,613)
Tax benefit on stock option exercise, net of tax deficiency				13,142
Ending balance	704,508	593,220	704,508	593,220
Additional Paid In Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			396,790	393,297
Amortization of share-based awards			4,464	4,222
Restricted share activity, including net share settlement			(6,270)	(5,501)
Issuance of common stock, including net share settlement of stock options			(1,132)	(13,619)
Tax benefit on stock option exercise, net of tax deficiency				13,142
Ending balance	393,852	391,541	393,852	391,541
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			239,329	160,501
Comprehensive income			71,481	42,321
Ending balance	310,810	202,822	310,810	202,822
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(951)	(1,294)
Comprehensive income			278	(364)
Ending balance	(673)	(1,658)	(673)	(1,658)
Noncontrolling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			1,456	1,573
Comprehensive income			735	717
Distribution to Noncontrolling interest			(1,597)	(1,019)
Ending balance	594	1,271	594	1,271
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			122	120
Restricted share activity, including net share settlement			(1)
Issuance of common stock, including net share settlement of stock options				2
Ending balance	121	122	121	122
Class A Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			380	374
Restricted share activity, including net share settlement				(1)
Issuance of common stock, including net share settlement of stock options			2	4
Ending balance	382	377	382	377
Class B Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			16	16
Ending balance	$ 16	$ 16	$ 16	$ 16

Stock-Based Compensation - Narr

Stock-Based Compensation - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Tax benefit associated with share-based compensation expense	$ 1.5	$ 1.9
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation expense	$ 5.5	$ 5.3

Earnings Per Share - Earnings P

Earnings Per Share - Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017
Basic EPS:
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 45,234	$ 34,684	$ 71,481	$ 42,321
Weighted average shares, basic (in shares)	50,871	50,079	50,816	49,872
Earnings per share, basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.89	$ 0.69	$ 1.41	$ 0.85
Diluted EPS
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 45,234	$ 34,684	$ 71,481	$ 42,321
Weighted average shares, diluted (in shares)	52,658	51,983	52,693	51,911
Earnings per share, diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.86	$ 0.67	$ 1.36	$ 0.82
Options to purchase common stock
Effect of dilutive securities:
Effective of dilutive securities (in shares)	1,092	1,156	1,120	1,273
Effect of dilutive securities (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)
Restricted shares
Effect of dilutive securities:
Effective of dilutive securities (in shares)	695	748	757	766
Effect of dilutive securities (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.01)

Earnings Per Share - Narrative

Earnings Per Share - Narrative (Details) - $ / shares shares in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 25, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Number of options to purchase common stock outstanding (in shares)	3.1	2.7
Common stock outstanding, not included in computation of diluted earnings per share (in shares)	0.2
Minimum
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Options to purchase common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 6.43	$ 6.43
Maximum
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Options to purchase common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 31.76	$ 36.94

Segment Information - Narrative

Segment Information - Narrative (Details)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018Segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of operating segments	2

Segment Information - Financial

Segment Information - Financial Information Relating to Company's Business Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017
Net sales:
Total net sales	$ 613,094	$ 569,924	$ 1,055,105	$ 989,422
Operating Income
Total operating income	65,786	63,860	88,307	83,798
Interest expense - net	(9,882)	(6,822)	(17,100)	(13,657)
Other income (expense)	1,505	(965)	(1,584)	(1,932)
Income tax (benefit) expense	11,643	20,824	(2,593)	25,171
Income including noncontrolling interest	45,766	35,249	72,216	43,038
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	532	565	735	717
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	45,234	34,684	71,481	42,321
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	11,122	10,335	22,285	20,344
Assets:
Assets	1,703,963	1,368,464	1,703,963	1,368,464	$ 1,306,906
Goodwill (included in corporate assets above):
Goodwill	268,243	230,385	268,243	230,385	256,275
Operating segments | Pet segment
Net sales:
Total net sales	321,653	298,393	646,737	602,439
Operating Income
Total operating income	32,784	34,645	68,960	68,051
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	6,944	6,174	14,089	12,004
Assets:
Assets	660,344	612,189	660,344	612,189	612,337
Goodwill (included in corporate assets above):
Goodwill	262,770	224,912	262,770	224,912	250,802
Operating segments | Garden segment
Net sales:
Total net sales	291,441	271,531	408,368	386,983
Operating Income
Total operating income	50,746	46,005	53,046	48,681
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	1,707	1,528	3,276	3,035
Assets:
Assets	581,105	478,919	581,105	478,919	311,026
Goodwill (included in corporate assets above):
Goodwill	5,473	5,473	5,473	5,473	5,473
Corporate
Operating Income
Total operating income	(17,744)	(16,790)	(33,699)	(32,934)
Depreciation and amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	2,471	2,633	4,920	5,305
Assets:
Assets	$ 462,514	$ 277,356	$ 462,514	$ 277,356	$ 383,543

Consolidating Condensed Finan48

Consolidating Condensed Financial Information of Guarantor Subsidiaries - Narrative (Details)	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018
Senior notes
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Senior subordinated notes, maturity year	2,023
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Collective ownership percentage on guarantor subsidiaries	100.00%

Consolidating Condensed Finan49

Consolidating Condensed Financial Information of Guarantor Subsidiaries - Consolidating Condensed Statement of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 613,094	$ 569,924	$ 1,055,105	$ 989,422
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	418,637	386,395	728,811	685,215
Gross profit	194,457	183,529	326,294	304,207
Selling, general and administrative expenses	128,671	119,669	237,987	220,409
Operating income	65,786	63,860	88,307	83,798
Interest expense	(10,575)	(6,830)	(17,980)	(13,703)
Interest income	693	8	880	46
Other (expense) income	1,505	(965)	(1,584)	(1,932)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	57,409	56,073	69,623	68,209
Income tax expense (benefit)	11,643	20,824	(2,593)	25,171
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income including noncontrolling interest	45,766	35,249	72,216	43,038
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	532	565	735	717
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	45,234	34,684	71,481	42,321
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(27,151)	(25,632)	(44,368)	(42,114)
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	(25,495)	(24,006)	(41,667)	(39,440)
Gross profit	(1,656)	(1,626)	(2,701)	(2,674)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,656)	(1,626)	(2,701)	(2,674)
Operating income	0	0	0	0
Interest expense		0	0	0
Interest income		0	0	0
Other (expense) income		0	0	0
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Income tax expense (benefit)		0	0	0
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	(42,113)	(35,988)	(93,059)	(48,621)
Income including noncontrolling interest	(42,113)	(35,988)	(93,059)	(48,621)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	(42,113)	(35,988)	(93,059)	(48,621)
Parent | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	195,464	190,791	354,525	346,309
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	151,868	145,593	277,347	266,729
Gross profit	43,596	45,198	77,178	79,580
Selling, general and administrative expenses	41,677	39,347	78,316	75,312
Operating income	1,919	5,851	(1,138)	4,268
Interest expense	(10,510)	(6,759)	(17,895)	(13,610)
Interest income	692	7	878	45
Other (expense) income	1,108	(737)	(1,810)	(1,340)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	(6,791)	(1,638)	(19,965)	(10,637)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(13,753)	(718)	672	(3,910)
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	38,272	35,604	92,118	49,048
Income including noncontrolling interest	45,234	34,684	71,481	42,321
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	45,234	34,684	71,481	42,321
Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	32,433	26,092	46,176	40,116
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	24,192	20,128	36,008	31,806
Gross profit	8,241	5,964	10,168	8,310
Selling, general and administrative expenses	6,532	4,874	10,437	8,538
Operating income	1,709	1,090	(269)	(228)
Interest expense	(62)	(65)	(78)	(82)
Interest income	1	1	2	1
Other (expense) income	200	(194)	254	(387)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	1,848	832	(91)	(696)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(1,549)	448	(267)	37
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	0	0	0	0
Income including noncontrolling interest	3,397	384	176	(733)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	532	565	735	717
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	2,865	(181)	(559)	(1,450)
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	412,348	378,673	698,772	645,111
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	268,072	244,680	457,123	426,120
Gross profit	144,276	133,993	241,649	218,991
Selling, general and administrative expenses	82,118	77,074	151,935	139,233
Operating income	62,158	56,919	89,714	79,758
Interest expense	(3)	(6)	(7)	(11)
Interest income	0	0	0	0
Other (expense) income	197	(34)	(28)	(205)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	62,352	56,879	89,679	79,542
Income tax expense (benefit)	26,945	21,094	(2,998)	29,044
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	3,841	384	941	(427)
Income including noncontrolling interest	39,248	36,169	93,618	50,071
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$ 39,248	$ 36,169	$ 93,618	$ 50,071

Consolidating Condensed Finan50

Consolidating Condensed Financial Information of Guarantor Subsidiaries - Consolidating Condensed Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	$ 45,766	$ 35,249	$ 72,216	$ 43,038
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	234	144	278	(364)
Total comprehensive income	46,000	35,393	72,494	42,674
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	532	565	735	717
Comprehensive income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	45,468	34,828	71,759	41,957
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	(42,113)	(35,988)	(93,059)	(48,621)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	(158)	(115)	(185)	290
Total comprehensive income	(42,271)	(36,103)	(93,244)	(48,331)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	(42,271)	(36,103)	(93,244)	(48,331)
Parent | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	45,234	34,684	71,481	42,321
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	234	144	278	(364)
Total comprehensive income	45,468	34,828	71,759	41,957
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	45,468	34,828	71,759	41,957
Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	3,397	384	176	(733)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	206	95	249	(260)
Total comprehensive income	3,603	479	425	(993)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	532	565	735	717
Comprehensive income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	3,071	(86)	(310)	(1,710)
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income	39,248	36,169	93,618	50,071
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	(48)	20	(64)	(30)
Total comprehensive income	39,200	36,189	93,554	50,041
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$ 39,200	$ 36,189	$ 93,554	$ 50,041

Consolidating Condensed Finan51

Consolidating Condensed Financial Information of Guarantor Subsidiaries - Consolidating Condensed Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 25, 2017	Sep. 24, 2016
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 132,265	$ 32,397	$ 6,169	$ 92,982
Restricted cash	13,948	12,645	10,988
Accounts receivable, net	395,151	237,868	343,202
Inventories	465,522	382,101	426,385
Prepaid expenses and other	26,677	18,045	23,610
Total current assets	1,033,563	683,056	810,354
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net	210,563	180,913	175,940
Goodwill	268,243	256,275	230,385
Other long-term assets	191,594	186,662	151,785
Intercompany receivable	0	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0	0
Total	1,703,963	1,306,906	1,368,464
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	150,975	103,283	141,791
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	116,414	116,549	101,421
Current portion of long-term debt	20	375	374
Total current liabilities	267,409	220,207	243,586
Long-term debt	691,084	395,278	495,870
Intercompany payable	0	0	0
Losses in excess of investment in subsidiaries	0	0	0
Other long-term obligations	40,368	54,279	34,517
Total Central Garden & Pet Company shareholders’ equity	704,508	635,686	593,220
Noncontrolling interest	594	1,456	1,271
Total equity	705,102	637,142	594,491	554,587
Total	1,703,963	1,306,906	1,368,464
Eliminations
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0
Restricted cash	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	0	0	0
Inventories	0	0	0
Prepaid expenses and other	0	0	0
Total current assets	0	0	0
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net		0	0
Goodwill		0	0
Other long-term assets	(12,576)	(23,801)	(20,224)
Intercompany receivable	(664,877)	(698,743)	(556,276)
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,539,309)	(1,383,633)	(1,287,126)
Total	(2,216,762)	(2,106,177)	(1,863,626)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	0	0	0
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	0	0	0
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0	0
Total current liabilities	0	0	0
Long-term debt		0	0
Intercompany payable	(664,877)	(698,743)	(556,276)
Losses in excess of investment in subsidiaries	(25,228)	(19,782)	(20,629)
Other long-term obligations	(12,576)	(23,801)	(20,224)
Total Central Garden & Pet Company shareholders’ equity	(1,514,081)	(1,363,851)	(1,266,497)
Noncontrolling interest	0	0	0
Total equity	(1,514,081)	(1,363,851)	(1,266,497)
Total	(2,216,762)	(2,106,177)	(1,863,626)
Parent | Reportable Legal Entities
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	123,840	19,238	492	82,158
Restricted cash	13,948	12,645	10,988
Accounts receivable, net	132,218	78,692	113,600
Inventories	137,108	125,797	138,493
Prepaid expenses and other	6,157	6,059	7,701
Total current assets	413,271	242,431	271,274
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net	35,314	38,170	38,932
Goodwill	15,058	15,058	15,058
Other long-term assets	56,612	61,715	40,704
Intercompany receivable	54,117	36,606	44,957
Investment in subsidiaries	1,539,309	1,383,633	1,287,126
Total	2,113,681	1,777,613	1,698,051
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	48,659	36,760	51,357
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	63,951	54,909	53,301
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0	0
Total current liabilities	112,610	91,669	104,658
Long-term debt	690,947	395,160	495,762
Intercompany payable	597,619	647,409	501,993
Losses in excess of investment in subsidiaries	0	0	0
Other long-term obligations	7,997	7,689	2,418
Total Central Garden & Pet Company shareholders’ equity	704,508	635,686	593,220
Noncontrolling interest	0	0	0
Total equity	704,508	635,686	593,220
Total	2,113,681	1,777,613	1,698,051
Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	7,170	11,693	4,764	9,695
Restricted cash	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	19,938	5,586	14,366
Inventories	43,438	9,493	16,901
Prepaid expenses and other	2,086	811	813
Total current assets	72,632	27,583	36,844
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net	34,632	4,225	4,045
Goodwill	0	0	0
Other long-term assets	14,642	2,376	3,381
Intercompany receivable	0	0	0
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0	0
Total	121,906	34,184	44,270
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	19,752	3,076	11,199
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	5,303	2,391	2,131
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0	0
Total current liabilities	25,055	5,467	13,330
Long-term debt	0	0	0
Intercompany payable	67,258	51,334	54,283
Losses in excess of investment in subsidiaries	0	0	0
Other long-term obligations	0	0	0
Total Central Garden & Pet Company shareholders’ equity	28,999	(24,073)	(24,614)
Noncontrolling interest	594	1,456	1,271
Total equity	29,593	(22,617)	(23,343)
Total	121,906	34,184	44,270
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	1,255	1,466	913	$ 1,129
Restricted cash	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	242,995	153,590	215,236
Inventories	284,976	246,811	270,991
Prepaid expenses and other	18,434	11,175	15,096
Total current assets	547,660	413,042	502,236
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net	140,617	138,518	132,963
Goodwill	253,185	241,217	215,327
Other long-term assets	132,916	146,372	127,924
Intercompany receivable	610,760	662,137	511,319
Investment in subsidiaries	0	0	0
Total	1,685,138	1,601,286	1,489,769
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	82,564	63,447	79,235
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	47,160	59,249	45,989
Current portion of long-term debt	20	375	374
Total current liabilities	129,744	123,071	125,598
Long-term debt	137	118	108
Intercompany payable	0	0	0
Losses in excess of investment in subsidiaries	25,228	19,782	20,629
Other long-term obligations	44,947	70,391	52,323
Total Central Garden & Pet Company shareholders’ equity	1,485,082	1,387,924	1,291,111
Noncontrolling interest	0	0	0
Total equity	1,485,082	1,387,924	1,291,111
Total	$ 1,685,138	$ 1,601,286	$ 1,489,769

Consolidating Condensed Finan52

Consolidating Condensed Financial Information of Guarantor Subsidiaries - Consolidating Condensed Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 25, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	$ (93,958)	$ (96,242)
Additions to property and equipment	(17,566)	(26,794)
Payments to acquire companies, net of cash acquired	(63,372)	(60,042)
Change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	(1,303)	(78)
Proceeds from sale of business, facility and other assets	0	8,268
Investments	(6,555)	(2,000)
Other investing activities	(2,180)	(1,395)
Intercompany investing activities	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(90,976)	(82,041)
Repayments on revolving line of credit	(23,000)	(115,000)
Borrowings under revolving line of credit	23,000	216,000
Issuance of long-term debt	300,000	0
Repayments under long-term debt	(360)	(449)
Payment of financing costs	(4,765)	0
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards	0	13,166
Repurchase of common stock	(8,473)	(20,172)
Distribution to parent	0	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	(1,597)	(1,019)
Payment of contingent consideration liability	(123)	(894)
Intercompany financing activities	0	0
Net cash provided by financing activities	284,682	91,632
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	120	(162)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	99,868	(86,813)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	32,397	92,982
Cash and equivalents at end of period	132,265	6,169
Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Investments
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	(6,387)	(4,076)
Additions to property and equipment		0
Payments to acquire companies, net of cash acquired		0
Change in restricted cash and cash equivalents		0
Investments
Other investing activities	0
Intercompany investing activities	(33,865)	(36,019)
Net cash used in investing activities	(33,865)	(36,019)
Repayments on revolving line of credit		0
Borrowings under revolving line of credit		0
Issuance of long-term debt		0
Repayments under long-term debt		0
Payment of financing costs
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards		0
Repurchase of common stock
Distribution to parent	6,387	4,076
Distribution to noncontrolling interest		0
Payment of contingent consideration liability	0	0
Intercompany financing activities	33,865	36,019
Net cash provided by financing activities	40,252	40,095
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		0
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and equivalents at end of period	0	0
Parent | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	(36,868)	(43,383)
Additions to property and equipment	(4,923)	(4,357)
Payments to acquire companies, net of cash acquired	(63,372)	(60,042)
Change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	(1,303)	(78)
Proceeds from sale of business, facility and other assets		2
Investments	(6,555)	(2,000)
Other investing activities	(2,180)	(1,395)
Intercompany investing activities	(17,512)	(14,089)
Net cash used in investing activities	(95,845)	(81,959)
Repayments on revolving line of credit	(23,000)	(115,000)
Borrowings under revolving line of credit	23,000	216,000
Issuance of long-term debt	300,000	0
Repayments under long-term debt		(88)
Payment of financing costs	(4,765)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards		13,166
Repurchase of common stock	(8,473)	(20,172)
Distribution to parent		0
Distribution to noncontrolling interest		0
Payment of contingent consideration liability		0
Intercompany financing activities	(49,789)	(49,895)
Net cash provided by financing activities	236,973	44,011
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	342	(335)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	104,602	(81,666)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	19,238	82,158
Cash and equivalents at end of period	123,840	492
Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	(11,840)	(7,352)
Additions to property and equipment	(494)	(413)
Payments to acquire companies, net of cash acquired		0
Change in restricted cash and cash equivalents		0
Investments
Other investing activities	0
Intercompany investing activities		0
Net cash used in investing activities	(494)	(413)
Repayments on revolving line of credit		0
Borrowings under revolving line of credit		0
Issuance of long-term debt		0
Repayments under long-term debt		0
Payment of financing costs
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards		0
Repurchase of common stock
Distribution to parent	(6,387)	(4,076)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	(1,597)	(1,019)
Payment of contingent consideration liability	0	0
Intercompany financing activities	15,924	7,830
Net cash provided by financing activities	7,940	2,735
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(129)	99
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(4,523)	(4,931)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	11,693	9,695
Cash and equivalents at end of period	7,170	4,764
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities	(38,863)	(41,431)
Additions to property and equipment	(12,149)	(22,024)
Payments to acquire companies, net of cash acquired
Change in restricted cash and cash equivalents		0
Proceeds from sale of business, facility and other assets		8,266
Investments
Other investing activities	0
Intercompany investing activities	51,377	50,108
Net cash used in investing activities	39,228	36,350
Repayments on revolving line of credit
Borrowings under revolving line of credit		0
Issuance of long-term debt		0
Repayments under long-term debt	(360)	(361)
Payment of financing costs
Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards		0
Repurchase of common stock		0
Distribution to parent		0
Distribution to noncontrolling interest		0
Payment of contingent consideration liability	(123)	(894)
Intercompany financing activities		6,046
Net cash provided by financing activities	(483)	4,791
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(93)	74
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(211)	(216)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	1,466	1,129
Cash and equivalents at end of period	$ 1,255	$ 913