EXHIBIT 12
                         CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY

              COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                           
                            (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
 
 
 
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                               Fiscal Year          Fiscal Year        Fiscal Year        Nine Month
                                                  Ended                Ended              Ended          Period Ended
                                               December 27,         December 26,       December 25,      September 30,
                                                   1992                 1993               1994              1995
                                               ------------         ------------       ------------      -------------   
<S>                                            <C>                  <C>                <C>               <C> 
Income before income taxes and minority                         
  interest                                           3,938                6,605              2,341              1,983
Fixed charges (1)                                    4,286                4,029              6,037              6,414
                                               ------------         ------------       ------------      -------------   
  Total earnings and fixed charges                   8,224               10,634              8,378              8,397
 
Fixed charges (1)                                    4,286                4,029              6,037              6,414
 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges                    1.92                 2.64               1.39               1.31
                                               ============         ============       ============      =============
</TABLE> 
 
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                               Fiscal Year          Nine Month         Nine Month
                                                  Ended            Period Ended       Period Ended
                                               September 28,          June 29,           June 28,
                                                   1996                 1996               1997
                                               ------------        -------------      ------------ 
<S>                                            <C>                 <C>                <C> 
Income before income taxes and minority             14,465               12,230            25,933
  interest
Fixed charges (1)                                    4,826                3,978             5,752
                                               ------------        -------------      ------------ 
                                                    19,291               16,208            31,685
 
Fixed charges (1)                                    4,826                3,978             5,752
 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges                    4.00                 4.07              5.51
                                               ============        =============      ============
</TABLE> 
 
 
(1)  Fixed charges consist of interest expense incurred and the portion of
     rental expense under operating leases deemed by the Company to be
     representative of the interest factor.