EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

EXHIBIT 4.1

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN


SECTION 1
PURPOSE

Central Garden & Pet Company hereby establishes the Central Garden & Pet
Company Employee Stock Purchase Plan, effective as of March 31, 1997, in order
to provide eligible employees of the Company and its participating Subsidiaries
with the opportunity to purchase Common Stock through payroll deductions. The
Plan is intended to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Section
423(b) of the Code.


SECTION 2
DEFINITIONS

2.1 "1934 Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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Reference to a specific Section of the 1934 Act or regulation thereunder shall
include such Section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such
Section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation
amending, supplementing or superseding such Section or regulation.

2.2 "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
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2.3 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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Reference to a specific Section of the Code or regulation thereunder shall
include such Section or regulation, any valid regulation promulgated under such
Section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation
amending, supplementing or superseding such Section or regulation.

2.4 "Committee" shall mean the committee appointed by the Board to
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administer the Plan. Any member of the Committee may resign at any time by
notice in writing mailed or delivered to the Secretary of the Company. As of
the effective date of the Plan, the Committee shall be administered by the
Compensation Committee of the Board.

2.5 "Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company.
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2.6 "Company" means Central Garden & Pet Company, a Delaware corporation.
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2.7 "Compensation" means a Participant's base salary or regular wages
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(including sick pay and vacation pay). The Committee, in its discretion, may
(on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis) establish a different definition of
Compensation prior to an Enrollment Date for all options to be granted on such
Enrollment Date.

2.8 "Eligible Employee" means every Employee of an Employer, except (a)
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any Employee who immediately after the grant of an option under the Plan, would
own stock and/or hold outstanding options to purchase stock possessing five
percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes
of stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company (including stock
attributed to such Employee pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code), or (b) as
provided in the following sentence. The Committee, in its discretion, from time
to time may, prior to an Enrollment Date for all options to be granted on such
Enrollment Date, determine (on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis) that an
Employee shall not be an Eligible Employee if he or she: (1) has not completed
at least two years of service since his or her last hire date (or such lesser
period of time as determined by the Committee in its discretion), (2)
customarily works not more than 20 hours per week, (3) customarily works not
more than 5 months per calendar year, or (4) is an officer or other manager.

2.9 "Employee" means an individual who is a common-law employee of any
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Employer, whether such employee is so employed at the time the Plan is adopted
or becomes so employed subsequent to the adoption of the Plan.

2.10 "Employer" or "Employers" means any one or all of the Company and
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those Subsidiaries which, with the consent of the Board, have adopted the Plan.

2.11 "Enrollment Date" means such dates as may be determined by the
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Committee (in its discretion and on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis) from
time to time.

2.12 "Grant Date" means any date on which a Participant is granted an
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option under the Plan.

2.13 "Participant" means an Eligible Employee who (a) has become a
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Participant in the Plan pursuant to Section 4.1 and (b) has not ceased to be a
Participant pursuant to Section 8 or Section 9.

2.14 "Plan" means the Central Garden & Pet Company Employee Stock Purchase
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Plan, as set forth in this instrument and as hereafter amended from time to
time.

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2.15 "Purchase Date" means such dates as may be determined by the
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Committee (in its discretion and on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis) from
time to time prior to an Enrollment Date for all options to be granted on such
Enrollment Date.

2.16 "Subsidiary" means any corporation in an unbroken chain of
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corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations other than
the last corporation in the unbroken chain then owns stock possessing fifty
percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
in one of the other corporations in such chain.


SECTION 3
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

3.1 Number Available. A maximum of 400,000 shares of Common Stock shall
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be available for issuance pursuant to the Plan. Shares sold under the Plan may
be newly issued shares or treasury shares.

3.2 Adjustments. In the event of any reorganization, recapitalization,
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stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares, merger,
consolidation, offering of rights or other similar change in the capital
structure of the Company, the Board may make such adjustment, if any, as it
deems appropriate in the number, kind and purchase price of the shares available
for purchase under the Plan and in the maximum number of shares subject to any
option under the Plan.


SECTION 4
ENROLLMENT

4.1 Participation. Each Eligible Employee may elect to become a
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Participant by enrolling or re-enrolling in the Plan effective as of any
Enrollment Date. In order to enroll, an Eligible Employee must complete, sign
and submit to the Company an enrollment form in such form, manner and by such
deadline as may be specified by the Committee from time to time (in its
discretion and on a nondiscriminatory basis). Any Participant whose option
expires and who has not withdrawn from the Plan automatically will be re-
enrolled in the Plan on the Enrollment Date immediately following the Purchase
Date on which his or her option expires.

4.2 Payroll Withholding. On his or her enrollment form, each Participant
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must elect to make Plan contributions via payroll withholding from his or her
Compensation. Pursuant to such procedures as the Committee may specify from
time to time, a Participant may elect to have withholding equal to a whole

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percentage from 1% to 15% (or such lesser percentage that the Committee may
establish from time to time for all options to be granted on any Enrollment
Date). A Participant may elect to increase or decrease his or her rate of
payroll withholding by submitting a new enrollment form in accordance with such
procedures as may be established by the Committee from time to time. A
Participant may stop his or her payroll withholding by submitting a new
enrollment form in accordance with such procedures as may be established by the
Committee from time to time. In order to be effective as of a specific date, an
enrollment form must be received by the Company no later than the deadline
specified by the Committee, in its discretion and on a nondiscriminatory basis,
from time to time. Any Participant who is automatically re-enrolled in the Plan
will be deemed to have elected to continue his or her contributions at the
percentage last elected by the Participant.


SECTION 5
OPTIONS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

5.1 Grant of Option. On each Enrollment Date on which the Participant
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enrolls or re-enrolls in the Plan, he or she shall be granted an option to
purchase shares of Common Stock.

5.2 Duration of Option. Each option granted under the Plan shall expire on
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the earliest to occur of (a) the completion of the purchase of shares on the
last Purchase Date occurring within 27 months of the Grant Date of such option,
(b) such shorter option period as may be established by the Committee from time
to time prior to an Enrollment Date for all options to be granted on such
Enrollment Date, or (c) the date on which the Participant ceases to be such for
any reason. Until otherwise determined by the Committee for all options to be
granted on an Enrollment Date, the period referred to in clause (b) in the
preceding sentence shall mean the period from the applicable Enrollment Date
through the last business day prior to the immediately following Enrollment
Date.

5.3 Number of Shares Subject to Option. The number of shares available
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for purchase by each Participant under the option will be established by the
Committee from time to time prior to an Enrollment Date for all options to be
granted on such Enrollment Date. In addition and notwithstanding the preceding,
an option (taken together with all other options then outstanding under this
Plan and under all other similar employee stock purchase plans of the Employers)
shall not give the Participant the right to purchase shares at a rate which
accrues in excess of $25,000 of fair market value at the applicable Grant Dates
of such shares in any calendar year during which such Participant is enrolled in
the Plan at any time.

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5.4 Other Terms and Conditions. Each option shall be subject to the
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following additional terms and conditions:

(a) payment for shares purchased under the option shall be made only
through payroll withholding under Section 4.2;

(b) purchase of shares upon exercise of the option will be accomplished
only in accordance with Section 6.1;

(c) the price per share under the option will be determined as provided
in Section 6.1; and

(d) the option in all respects shall be subject to such other terms and
conditions (applied on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis), as the
Committee shall determine from time to time in its discretion.


SECTION 6
PURCHASE OF SHARES

6.1 Exercise of Option. Subject to Section 6.2, on each Purchase Date,
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the funds then credited to each Participant's account shall be used to purchase
whole shares of Common Stock. Any cash remaining after whole shares of Common
Stock have been purchased shall be carried forward in the Participant's account
for the purchase of shares on the next Purchase Date. The price per Share of
the Shares purchased under any option granted under the Plan shall be eighty-
five percent (85%) of the lower of:

(a) the closing price per Share on the Grant Date for such option on the
Nasdaq National Market; or

(b) the closing price per Share on the Purchase Date on the Nasdaq
National Market.

6.2 Delivery of Shares. As directed by the Committee in its sole
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discretion, shares purchased on any Purchase Date shall be delivered directly to
the Participant or to a custodian or broker (if any) designated by the Committee
to hold shares for the benefit of the Participants. As determined by the
Committee from time to time, such shares shall be delivered as physical
certificates or by means of a book entry system.

6.3 Exhaustion of Shares. If at any time the shares available under the
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Plan are over-enrolled, enrollments shall be reduced proportionately to
eliminate the over-enrollment. Such reduction method shall be "bottom up", with
the result that all option exercises for one share shall be satisfied first,
followed by all exercises for two shares, and so on, until all available shares
have been exhausted. Any funds that, due to over-

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enrollment, cannot be applied to the purchase of whole shares shall be refunded
to the Participants (without interest thereon).


SECTION 7
WITHDRAWAL

7.1 Withdrawal. A Participant may withdraw from the Plan by submitting a
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completed enrollment form to the Company. A withdrawal will be effective only
if it is received by the Company by the deadline specified by the Committee (in
its discretion and on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis) from time to time.
When a withdrawal becomes effective, the Participant's payroll contributions
shall cease and all amounts then credited to the Participant's account shall be
distributed to him or her (without interest thereon).


SECTION 8
CESSATION OF PARTICIPATION

8.1 Termination of Status as Eligible Employee. A Participant shall
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cease to be a Participant immediately upon the cessation of his or her status as
an Eligible Employee (for example, because of his or her termination of
employment from all Employers for any reason). As soon as practicable after
such cessation, the Participant's payroll contributions shall cease and all
amounts then credited to the Participant's account shall be distributed to him
or her (without interest thereon). If a Participant is on a Company-approved
leave of absence, his or her participation in the Plan shall continue for so
long as he or she remains an Eligible Employee and has not withdrawn from the
Plan pursuant to Section 7.1.


SECTION 9
DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY

9.1 Designation. Each Participant may, pursuant to such uniform and
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nondiscriminatory procedures as the Committee may specify from time to time,
designate one or more Beneficiaries to receive any amounts credited to the
Participant's account at the time of his or her death. Notwithstanding any
contrary provision of this Section 9, Sections 9.1 and 9.2 shall be operative
only after (and for so long as) the Committee determines (on a uniform and
nondiscriminatory basis) to permit the designation of Beneficiaries.

9.2 Changes. A Participant may designate different Beneficiaries (or may
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revoke a prior Beneficiary designation) at any time by delivering a new
designation (or revocation of a

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prior designation) in like manner. Any designation or revocation shall be
effective only if it is received by the Committee. However, when so received,
the designation or revocation shall be effective as of the date the designation
or revocation is executed (whether or not the Participant still is living), but
without prejudice to the Committee on account of any payment made before the
change is recorded. The last effective designation received by the Committee
shall supersede all prior designations.

9.3 Failed Designations. If a Participant dies without having
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effectively designated a Beneficiary, or if no Beneficiary survives the
Participant, the Participant's Account shall be payable to his or her estate.


SECTION 10
ADMINISTRATION

10.1 Plan Administrator. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.
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The Committee shall have the authority to control and manage the operation and
administration of the Plan.

10.2 Actions by Committee. Each decision of a majority of the members of
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the Committee then in office shall constitute the final and binding act of the
Committee. The Committee may act with or without a meeting being called or held
and shall keep minutes of all meetings held and a record of all actions taken by
written consent.

10.3 Powers of Committee. The Committee shall have all powers and
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discretion necessary or appropriate to supervise the administration of the Plan
and to control its operation in accordance with its terms, including, but not by
way of limitation, the following discretionary powers:

(a) To interpret and determine the meaning and validity of the provisions
of the Plan and the options and to determine any question arising under, or
in connection with, the administration, operation or validity of the Plan
or the options;

(b) To determine any and all considerations affecting the eligibility of
any employee to become a Participant or to remain a Participant in the
Plan;

(c) To cause an account or accounts to be maintained for each
Participant;

(d) To determine the time or times when, and the number of shares for
which, options shall be granted;

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(e) To establish and revise an accounting method or formula for the Plan;

(f) To designate a custodian or broker to receive shares purchased under
the Plan and to determine the manner and form in which shares are to be
delivered to the designated custodian or broker;

(g) To determine the status and rights of Participants and their
Beneficiaries or estates;

(h) To employ such brokers, counsel, agents and advisers, and to obtain
such broker, legal, clerical and other services, as it may deem necessary
or appropriate in carrying out the provisions of the Plan;

(i) To establish, from time to time, rules for the performance of its
powers and duties and for the administration of the Plan;

(j) To adopt such procedures and subplans as are necessary or appropriate
to permit participation in the Plan by employees who are foreign nationals
or employed outside of the United States; and

(k) To delegate to any one or more of its members or to any other person,
severally or jointly, the authority to perform for and on behalf of the
Committee one or more of the functions of the Committee under the Plan.

10.4 Decisions of Committee. All actions, interpretations, and decisions
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of the Committee shall be conclusive and binding on all persons, and shall be
given the maximum possible deference allowed by law.

10.5 Administrative Expenses. All expenses incurred in the administration
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of the Plan by the Committee, or otherwise, including legal fees and expenses,
shall be paid and borne by the Employers, except any stamp duties or transfer
taxes applicable to the purchase of shares may be charged to the account of each
Participant. Any brokerage fees for the purchase of shares by a Participant
shall be paid by the Company, but fees and taxes (including brokerage fees) for
the transfer, sale or resale of shares by a Participant, or the issuance of
physical share certificates, shall be borne solely by the Participant.

10.6 Eligibility to Participate. No member of the Committee who is also
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an employee of an Employer shall be excluded from participating in the Plan if
otherwise eligible, but he or she shall not be entitled, as a member of the
Committee, to act or pass upon any matters pertaining specifically to his or her
own account under the Plan.

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10.7 Indemnification. Each of the Employers shall, and hereby does,
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indemnify and hold harmless the members of the Committee and the Board, from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including attorneys'
fees and amounts paid, with the approval of the Board, in settlement of any
claim) arising out of or resulting from the implementation of a duty, act or
decision with respect to the Plan, so long as such duty, act or decision does
not involve gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of any such
individual.


SECTION 11
AMENDMENT, TERMINATION, AND DURATION

11.1 Amendment, Suspension, or Termination. The Board, in its sole
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discretion, may amend or terminate the Plan, or any part thereof, at any time
and for any reason. If the Plan is terminated, the Board, in its discretion,
may elect to terminate all outstanding options either immediately or upon
completion of the purchase of shares on the next Purchase Date, or may elect to
permit options to expire in accordance with their terms (and participation to
continue through such expiration dates). If the options are terminated prior to
expiration, all amounts then credited to Participants' accounts which have not
been used to purchase shares shall be returned to the Participants (without
interest thereon) as soon as administratively practicable.

11.2 Duration of the Plan. The Plan shall commence on the date specified
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herein, and subject to Section 11.1 (regarding the Board's right to amend or
terminate the Plan), shall remain in effect thereafter.


SECTION 12
GENERAL PROVISIONS

12.1 Participation by Subsidiaries. One or more Subsidiaries of the
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Company may become participating Employers by adopting the Plan and obtaining
approval for such adoption from the Board. By adopting the Plan, a Subsidiary
shall be deemed to agree to all of its terms, including (but not limited to) the
provisions granting exclusive authority (a) to the Board to amend the Plan, and
(b) to the Committee to administer and interpret the Plan. An Employer may
terminate its participation in the Plan at any time. The liabilities incurred
under the Plan to the Participants employed by each Employer shall be solely the
liabilities of that Employer, and no other Employer shall be liable for benefits
accrued by a Participant during any period when he or she was not employed by
such Employer.

12.2 Inalienability. In no event may either a Participant, a former
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Participant or his or her Beneficiary,

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spouse or estate sell, transfer, anticipate, assign, hypothecate, or otherwise
dispose of any right or interest under the Plan; and such rights and interests
shall not at any time be subject to the claims of creditors nor be liable to
attachment, execution or other legal process. Accordingly, for example, a
Participant's interest in the Plan is not transferable pursuant to a domestic
relations order.

12.3 Severability. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held
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illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect
the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as
if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

12.4 Requirements of Law. The granting of options and the issuance of
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shares shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to
such approvals by any governmental agencies or securities exchanges as the
Committee may determine are necessary or appropriate.

12.5 Compliance with Rule 16b-3. Any transactions under this Plan with
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respect to officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1 promulgated under the 1934 Act)
are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3. To the
extent any provision of the Plan or action by the Committee fails to so comply,
it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed
advisable by the Committee. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan,
if the Committee specifically determines that compliance with Rule 16b-3 no
longer is required, all references in the Plan to Rule 16b-3 shall be null and
void.

12.6 No Enlargement of Employment Rights. Neither the establishment or
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maintenance of the Plan, the granting of options, the purchase of shares, nor
any action of any Employer or the Committee, shall be held or construed to
confer upon any individual any right to be continued as an employee of the
Employer nor, upon dismissal, any right or interest in any specific assets of
the Employers other than as provided in the Plan. Each Employer expressly
reserves the right to discharge any employee at any time, with or without cause.

12.7 Apportionment of Costs and Duties. All acts required of the
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Employers under the Plan may be performed by the Company for itself and its
Subsidiaries, and the costs of the Plan may be equitably apportioned by the
Committee among the Company and the other Employers. Whenever an Employer is
permitted or required under the terms of the Plan to do or perform any act,
matter or thing, it shall be done and performed by any officer or employee of
the Employers who is thereunto duly authorized by the Employers.

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12.8 Construction and Applicable Law. The Plan is intended to qualify as
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an "employee stock purchase plan" within the meaning of Section 423(b) of the
Code. Any provision of the Plan which is inconsistent with Section 423(b) of
the Code shall, without further act or amendment by the Company or the
Committee, be reformed to comply with the requirements of Section 423(b). The
provisions of the Plan shall be construed, administered and enforced in
accordance with such Section and with the laws of the State of California
(excluding California's conflict of laws provisions).

12.9 Captions. The captions contained in and the table of contents
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prefixed to the Plan are inserted only as a matter of convenience, and in no way
define, limit, enlarge or describe the scope or intent of the Plan nor in any
way shall affect the construction of any provision of the Plan.


EXECUTION

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Central Garden & Pet Company, by its duly authorized
officer, has executed this Plan on the date indicated below.


CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY



Dated: ___________, 1997 By___________________________
Title:

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