Form: S-3ASR

Automatic shelf registration statement of securities of well-known seasoned issuers

September 1, 2009

Documents

EXHIBIT 12.1

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY

COMPUTATION OF RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(dollars in thousands)

 

     Fiscal Year Ended     Nine-Months
Ended
June 27,
2009
     September 25,
2004		    September 24,
2005		    September 30,
2006		    September 29,
2007		    September 27,
2008		    

Income (loss) before income taxes and minority interest and after eliminating undistributed earnings of equity method investees

    $ 65,789    $ 83,896    $ 101,882    $ 54,700    $ (360,454 )    $ 88,954

Fixed charges (1)

      19,157      24,582      42,912      52,093      40,394        18,890
                                          

Total earnings and fixed charges

      84,946      108,478      144,794      106,793      (320,060 )      108,501

Fixed charges (1)

    $ 19,157    $ 24,582    $ 42,912    $ 52,093    $ 40,394        18,890

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (2)

      4.43      4.41      3.37      2.05      N/A        5.71
                                          

 

(1) Fixed charges consist of interest expense incurred, the portion of rental expense under operating leases deemed by management to be representative of the interest factor and amortization of deferred financing costs.
(2) For the year ended September 27, 2008, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by approximately $360.5 million, and the ratio for that fiscal year is not considered meaningful.