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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 z5J8d65drmE7/cGV0XyCTA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-036720.txt : 20031218
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-036720.hdr.sgml : 20031218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031218215938
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-036720
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031217
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031218

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOVOTNY GLENN W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001227135

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20242
		FILM NUMBER:		031063572

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO
		STREET 2:		3697 MT DIABLO BLVD STE 310
		CITY:			LAFAYETTE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94549

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
		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:		3697 MT DIABLO BLVD SUITE 300
		CITY:			LAFAYETTE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94549
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9252834573

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3697 MT DIABLO BLVD SUITE 310
		CITY:			LAFAYETTE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94549
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd26243.xml
<DESCRIPTION>NOVOTNY FORM 4 DECEMBER 17, 2003
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-17</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000887733</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTRAL GARDEN &amp; PET COMPANY</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CENT</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001227135</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NOVOTNY GLENN W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3697 MOUNT DIABLO BOULEVARD, SUITE 310</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAFAYETTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94549</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Pres./ Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>15.875</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>94647</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><val
ue>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>26.0612</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>84647</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><se
curityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>15.875</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1999-01-02</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-01-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</val
ue></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Options exercised through sales plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes shares of Central Garden &amp; Pet Company's Common Stock held in the Reporting Person's 401(k) plan and acquired under Central Garden &amp; Pet Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Shares sold through sales plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Includes shares of Central Garden &amp; Pet Company's Common Stock held in the Reporting Person's 401(k) plan and acquired under Central Garden &amp; Pet Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F5">These options were awarded as part of an option gran
t that provided for vesting in five equal annual installments commencing on January 2, 1999.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Glenn W. Novotny</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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