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) March 20, 2000 ------------------------------ 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 (925) 283-4573 ----------------------------- Inapplicable - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Former name or former address if changed since last report) Exhibit Index located on page 3 Item 5. Other Events On March 20, 2000, Central Garden & Pet Company (the "Company") issued a press release announcing that the Company is preparing to file a Form 10 with the SEC which, when declared effective by the SEC, would permit the Company to spin off its lawn and garden distribution business to shareholders. Item 7. Financial Statement and Exhibits (a) Not applicable (b) Not applicable (c) See attached Exhibit Index. 2 EXHIBIT INDEX Number Exhibit Page Number - ------ ------- ----------- 99.1 Press Release dated March 20, 2000. 5 3 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, Finance Dated: March 20, 2000 4