CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
8-K, 1997-12-30
MISCELLANEOUS NONDURABLE GOODS
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<PAGE>
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 of 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)  December 18, 1997
                                                 ------------------


                          Central Garden & Pet Company
                          ----------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



          Delaware                    0-20242                     68-0275553
          --------                    -------                     ----------
(State or other jurisdiction     (Commission File               (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)               Number)                Identification No.)



3697 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette, California                    94549
- ------------------------------------------------                    -----
(Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code     (510) 283-4573
                                                   ------------------------


                                  Inapplicable
                                  ------------
          (Former name or former address if changed since last report)


Exhibit Index located on page 3
<PAGE>
 
Item 2.  Acquisition or Disposition of Assets
         ------------------------------------

         On December  19,  1997,  Central  Garden & Pet  Company  issued a press
         release   announcing  the   consummation  of  the  acquisition  of  the
         outstanding stock of T.F.H.  Publications,  Inc. ("TFH"). TFH, based in
         Neptune City, New Jersey,  is a  manufacturer  of premium dog chews and
         the largest producer of pet books in the U.S.

Item 7.  Financial Statement and Exhibits
         --------------------------------

         (a)        Financial Statements - Not Applicable

         (b)        Pro Forma Financial Information - Not Applicable.

         (c)        See attached Exhibit Index.
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

Number           Exhibit

1.1              Press Release dated December 19, 1997.






                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                                  SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the

Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the

undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                      CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY


                                      By   /s/ Robert B. Jones
                                           -------------------
                                           Robert B. Jones, Vice President
                                           and Chief Financial Officer

Dated:  December 22, 1997

                                       4

<PAGE>
 
[Central Garden & Pet Letterhead]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- ---------------------

                               Contact:        Gregory Reams                   
                                               Central Garden & Pet             
                                               510/283-4573                     
                                                                               
                                               Paul Verbinnen/Debbie Miller     
                                               Sard Verbinnen & Co             
                                               212/687-8080                     



        CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF TFH PUBLICATIONS
        --------------------------------------------------------------  


        LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA, DECEMBER 19, 1997 -- Central Garden & Pet Company
(NASDAQ: CENT) today announced that it has completed the previously announced
acquisition of TFH Publications, Inc., a manufacturer of premium dog chews and
the largest producer of pet books in the U.S.

        TFH Publications, which is based in Neptune City, New Jersey, produces a
wide array of pet books and also manufactures premium dog chews and edible bones
under the brand name Nylabone/r/. In addition to approximately 1,200 titles in
print, TFH Publications produces two monthly magazines and twelve quarterly
magazines plus the Nylabone/r/, Gumabone/r/, Flexibone/r/ and Nylabone Edible/r/
product lines. The company has approximately 275 employees and had approximately
$32 million in annual sales in 1996.

        Central Garden & Pet Company is the leading national distributor of lawn
and garden and pet supply products. Central offers customers a wide array of
value-added services designed to increase the sales and profitability of both
manufacturers and retailers, including inventory management, advertising and
promotional programs, in-store design and display assistance and sales program
development. Central also offers lines of proprietary branded products which
include Zodiac/r/ and Four Paws/r/ pet products, Island/r/ aquariums,
Matthews/r/ redwood products and Grant's/r/ ant control products.


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