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                <filerCredentials>
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                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
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            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



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        <issuerInfo>
            <issuerCik>0000887733</issuerCik>
            <issuerName>CENTRAL GARDEN &amp; PET COMPANY</issuerName>
            <secFileNumber>001-33268</secFileNumber>
            <issuerAddress>
                <ns2:street1>1340 Treat Blvd</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:street2>Suite 600</ns2:street2>
                <ns2:city>Walnut Creek</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>94597</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>(925) 948-4000</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>BROOKS M PENNINGTON IIIPDP</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>38th Floor</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>22950</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>1047449.48</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>11077612</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>08/07/2023</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>02/28/1998</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Sale of company, Pennington Seed, Inc.</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>22950</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>02/28/1998</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Not Applicable</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>Y</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>08/07/2023</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates/>
            <signature>/s/ Brooks M. Pennington III</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
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144
0001057369
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000887733
CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
001-33268
1340 Treat Blvd
Suite 600
Walnut Creek
CA
94597
(925) 948-4000
BROOKS M PENNINGTON IIIPDP
Director
Common
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
38th Floor
New York
NY
10004
22950
1047449.48
11077612
08/07/2023
NASDAQ
Common
02/28/1998
Sale of company, Pennington Seed, Inc.
Issuer
N
22950
02/28/1998
Not Applicable
Y
08/07/2023
/s/ Brooks M. Pennington III