EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
 
Board of Directors
Central Garden & Pet Company
Lafayette, California
   
  We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement of Central Garden & Pet Company on Form S-3 of our
reports dated November 15, 1996, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K
of Central Garden & Pet Company for the year ended September 28, 1996, and to
the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is a
part of this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement.     
 
Deloitte & Touche LLP
San Francisco, California
   
March 14, 1997