Consolidating Condensed Financial Information of Guarantor Subsidiaries (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 29, 2012	Dec. 24, 2011	Sep. 24, 2011	Dec. 25, 2010
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 12,591	$ 48,475	$ 10,289	$ 12,031	$ 12,031
Short term investments	17,820	22,705	17,820
Accounts receivable, net	150,767	202,422	139,254
Inventories	397,725	330,032	365,743
Prepaid expenses and other assets	66,629	48,149	62,614
Total current assets	645,532	651,783	595,720
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment - net	192,486	191,163	180,401
Goodwill	210,223	210,223	210,223
Investment in guarantors	0	0	0
Deferred income taxes and other assets	97,831	96,378	101,925
Total	1,146,072	1,149,547	1,088,269
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	130,484	126,662	122,009
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	83,889	79,822	67,190
Total current liabilities	214,373	206,484	189,199
Long-term debt	450,446	449,483	460,346
Other long-term obligations	30,968	28,697	14,253
Shareholders' equity attributable to Central Garden & Pet Co.	450,046	463,937	424,643
Noncontrolling interest	239	946	(172)
Total equity	450,285	464,883	424,471	456,782
Total	1,146,072	1,149,547	1,088,269
Parent [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	7,925	44,662	7,730		10,633
Short term investments	17,820	22,705	17,820
Accounts receivable, net	44,084	48,339	45,519
Inventories	129,785	97,017	124,538
Prepaid expenses and other assets	38,498	25,242	35,823
Total current assets	238,112	237,965	231,430
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment - net	82,899	81,727	75,071
Goodwill		0	0
Investment in guarantors	666,645	654,362	633,623
Deferred income taxes and other assets	54,445	54,910	43,770
Total	1,042,101	1,028,964	983,894
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	65,042	49,894	45,011
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	47,186	38,673	41,605
Total current liabilities	112,228	88,567	86,616
Long-term debt	450,374	449,387	460,226
Other long-term obligations	29,214	26,127	12,581
Shareholders' equity attributable to Central Garden & Pet Co.	450,046	463,937	424,643
Noncontrolling interest	239	946	(172)
Total equity	450,285	464,883	424,471
Total	1,042,101	1,028,964	983,894
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	4,666	3,813	2,559		1,398
Short term investments	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	112,486	159,328	98,548
Inventories	267,940	233,015	241,205
Prepaid expenses and other assets	28,131	22,907	26,791
Total current assets	413,223	419,063	369,103
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment - net	109,587	109,436	105,330
Goodwill	210,223	210,223	210,223
Investment in guarantors	0	0	0
Deferred income taxes and other assets	43,386	41,468	58,155
Total	776,419	780,190	742,811
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	71,245	82,013	81,811
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	36,703	41,149	25,585
Total current liabilities	107,948	123,162	107,396
Long-term debt	72	96	120
Other long-term obligations	1,754	2,570	1,672
Shareholders' equity attributable to Central Garden & Pet Co.	666,645	654,362	633,623
Noncontrolling interest	0	0	0
Total equity	666,645	654,362	633,623
Total	776,419	780,190	742,811
Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0		0
Short term investments	0	0	0
Accounts receivable, net	(5,803)	(5,245)	(4,813)
Inventories	0	0	0
Prepaid expenses and other assets	0	0	0
Total current assets	(5,803)	(5,245)	(4,813)
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment - net	0	0	0
Goodwill	0	0	0
Investment in guarantors	(666,645)	(654,362)	(633,623)
Deferred income taxes and other assets	0	0	0
Total	(672,448)	(659,607)	(638,436)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	(5,803)	(5,245)	(4,813)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	0	0	0
Total current liabilities	(5,803)	(5,245)	(4,813)
Long-term debt	0	0	0
Other long-term obligations	0	0	0
Shareholders' equity attributable to Central Garden & Pet Co.	(666,645)	(654,362)	(633,623)
Noncontrolling interest	0	0	0
Total equity	(666,645)	(654,362)	(633,623)
Total	$ (672,448)	$ (659,607)	$ (638,436)