Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Segment Information - Financial Information Relating to Company's Business Segments (Details)

v3.4.0.3
Segment Information - Financial Information Relating to Company's Business Segments (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Mar. 26, 2016
Mar. 28, 2015
Mar. 26, 2016
Mar. 28, 2015
Sep. 26, 2015
Net sales:          
Net sales $ 541,249 $ 497,602 $ 901,061 $ 804,922  
Income (loss) from operations:          
Income from operations 59,403 49,971 68,176 51,109  
Interest expense - net (7,087) (11,858) (29,210) (22,290)  
Other expense (88) (121) (561) (489)  
Income tax expense 18,793 14,012 13,593 10,043  
Income including noncontrolling interest 33,435 23,980 24,812 18,287  
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 738 743 717 747  
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company 32,697 23,237 24,095 17,540  
Depreciation and amortization:          
Depreciation and amortization 9,169 8,350 18,202 16,814  
Assets:          
Total assets 1,323,099 1,269,197 1,323,099 1,269,197 $ 1,131,597
Goodwill (included in corporate assets above):          
Goodwill 213,753 209,089 213,753 209,089 209,089
Operating Segments          
Goodwill (included in corporate assets above):          
Goodwill 213,753 209,089 213,753 209,089 209,089
Operating Segments | Pet segment          
Net sales:          
Net sales 275,328 221,485 523,990 420,805  
Income (loss) from operations:          
Income from operations 32,409 27,051 58,604 47,626  
Depreciation and amortization:          
Depreciation and amortization 4,956 3,878 9,420 7,819  
Assets:          
Total assets 538,901 450,240 538,901 450,240 465,171
Goodwill (included in corporate assets above):          
Goodwill 210,455 209,089 210,455 209,089 209,089
Operating Segments | Garden segment          
Net sales:          
Net sales 265,921 276,117 377,071 384,117  
Income (loss) from operations:          
Income from operations 44,407 39,325 41,153 35,790  
Depreciation and amortization:          
Depreciation and amortization 1,359 1,483 3,044 3,049  
Assets:          
Total assets 467,026 490,514 467,026 490,514 310,981
Goodwill (included in corporate assets above):          
Goodwill 3,298 0 3,298 0 0
Corporate          
Income (loss) from operations:          
Income from operations (17,413) (16,405) (31,581) (32,307)  
Depreciation and amortization:          
Depreciation and amortization 2,854 2,989 5,738 5,946  
Assets:          
Total assets $ 317,172 $ 328,443 $ 317,172 $ 328,443 $ 355,445