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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OF 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) June 26, 1998
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CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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DELAWARE 0-20242 68-0275553
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Number) Identification No.)
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3697 MT. DIABLO BOULEVARD, LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA 94549
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
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Registrant's telephone number, including area code (510) 283-4573
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INAPPLICABLE
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(Former name or former address if changed since last report)
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Exhibit Index located on page 3
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
On June 26, 1998, Central Garden & Pet Company issued a press release
welcoming Monsanto Company's announced sale of Ortho to The Scotts
Company, and an agreement for Scotts to market Roundup.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND EXHIBITS
(a) Not applicable
(b) Not applicable
(c) See attached Exhibit Index.
2
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Number Exhibit Page Number
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99.1 Press Release dated June 26, 1998. 5
3
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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/ William E. Brown
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William E. Brown, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer
Dated: June 30, 1998
4
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EXHIBIT 99.1
[CENTRAL GARDEN & PET LETTERHEAD APPEARS HERE]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Contacts: Gregory Reams
Central Garden & Pet
(510) 283-4573
Paul Verbinnen/Debbie Miller
Sard Verbinnen & Co.
(212) 687-8080
CENTRAL GARDEN & PET WELCOMES
MONSANTO AGREEMENT WITH SCOTTS
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LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA, June 26, 1998 -- Central Garden & Pet Company
(NASDAQ:CENT) -- master agent/distributor for Solaris products nationwide,
including the Ortho, Roundup and GreenSweep lawn and garden products -- today
welcomed Monsanto Company's announced sale of Ortho to The Scotts Company (NYSE:
SMG), and an agreement for Scotts to market Roundup.
Said William E. Brown, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, "We're
pleased that Scotts -- with whom we have had an excellent relationship for many
years on Miracle-Gro/R/ and other brands -- has emerged as the buyer of Ortho
and steward of the Roundup brand. Scotts is a proven builder of excellent brands
and consumer products for lawn and garden and other businesses and we look
forward to the likelihood of expanding our relationship with them."
Under its 1995 agreement with Solaris, Central -- as master agent/
distributor for Solaris products -- maintains a nationwide network of
sub-distributors carrying Solaris products, and provides a wide range of
value-added services to Solaris retailers including logistics, order processing
and fulfillment, inventory distribution and merchandising. The agreement
continues until September 30, 1999.
"While we have enjoyed a good and mutually productive relationship with
Solaris over the past few years, we had indicated to Solaris our interest in
achieving modifications to the contract that we believe would have been in the
best interests of both parties. At the appropriate time, we intend to discuss
our ideas with Scotts."
-more-
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2
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 service and display building and sales program
development. Central also offers lines of proprietary branded products which
include Pennington/R/, Kaytee/R/, TFH/R/, 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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