Exhibit 23.1

 

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ CONSENT

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 33-96816 on Form S-8 of Central Garden & Pet Company of our report dated June 20, 2002 (which includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the modified cash basis of accounting), appearing in this Annual Report on Form 11-K of the Central Garden & Pet Company Investment Growth Plan for the year ended December 31, 2001.

 

/s/    DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

 

San Francisco, California

June 28, 2002