-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RqrJhgVcxJHIzD98Raqwx3AFzeqDsA4YQT3zLaF/BsB9aa8OLycbSTqbGh7oly+j
 DQqSY63uL9by/XXBXSsDhQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000891092-08-001891.txt : 20080402
<SEC-HEADER>0000891092-08-001891.hdr.sgml : 20080402
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080402124659
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000891092-08-001891
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080328
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080402
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080402

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000887733
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-MISCELLANEOUS NONDURABLE GOODS [5190]
		IRS NUMBER:				680275553
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1340 TREAT BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			WALNUT CREEK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94597
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9259484000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1340 TREAT BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 600
		CITY:			WALNUT CREEK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94597

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19941019

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SIROVICH MATTHEW
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001431208

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33268
		FILM NUMBER:		08732237

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-370-0303

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SCOPIA MANAGEMENT INC
		STREET 2:		450 SEVENTH AVENUE, 43RD FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10123

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCOPIA MANAGEMENT INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001279150
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33268
		FILM NUMBER:		08732238

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		450 SEVENTH AVENUE
		STREET 2:		43RD FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10123
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-370-0303

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		450 SEVENTH AVENUE
		STREET 2:		43RD FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10123

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MINDICH JEREMY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001431207

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33268
		FILM NUMBER:		08732239

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-370-0303

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SCOPIA MANAGEMENT INC
		STREET 2:		450 SEVENTH AVENUE, 43RD FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10123
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>e31115_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-28</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000887733</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTRAL GARDEN &amp; PET CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CENT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001279150</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCOPIA MANAGEMENT INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>450 SEVENTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>43RD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10123</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001431207</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MINDICH JEREMY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SCOPIA MANAGEMENT INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>450 SEVENTH AVENUE, 43RD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10123</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001431208</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SIROVICH MATTHEW</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SCOPIA MANAGEMENT INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>450 SEVENTH AVENUE, 43RD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10123</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Central Garden &amp; Pet Co Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2295562</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Central Garden &amp; Pet Co Class A</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4176117</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Total</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6471679</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These securities are held in the accounts of several investment funds and managed accounts (the &quot;Investment Vehicles&quot;) for
 which Scopia Management Inc. (&quot;Scopia Management&quot;) serves as the investment manager. Matthew Sirovich and Jeremy Mindich are
 the control persons of Scopia Management. Scopia Management and Messrs. Sirovich and Mindich may be deemed to beneficially
 own the securities held by the Investment Vehicles and Messrs. Sirovich and Mindich's status as the control persons of
 Scopia Management.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Scopia Management Inc. By: /s/ Jeremy Mindich, President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeremy Mindich</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Matt Sirovich</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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