EXHIBIT 99.1

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

In connection with the accompanying annual report on Form 10-K/A of Central Garden & Pet Company for the year ended September 29, 2001 (the “Report”), I, William E. Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Central Garden & Pet Company, hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) such Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) the information contained in such Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Central Garden & Pet Company.

December 10, 2002   /s/ WILLIAM E. BROWN                                 William E. Brown Chief Executive Officer