Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Consolidating Condensed Statement of Operations Based on Company's Understanding of SEC's Interpretation (Detail)

v2.4.0.8
Consolidating Condensed Statement of Operations Based on Company's Understanding of SEC's Interpretation (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 27, 2014
Jun. 28, 2014
Mar. 29, 2014
Dec. 28, 2013
Sep. 28, 2013
Jun. 29, 2013
Mar. 30, 2013
Dec. 29, 2012
Sep. 27, 2014
Sep. 28, 2013
Sep. 29, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Net sales $ 374,238 $ 437,987 $ 501,611 $ 290,521 $ 368,837 $ 494,130 $ 498,169 $ 292,497 $ 1,604,357 $ 1,653,633 $ 1,700,013
Cost of goods sold and occupancy                 1,150,333 1,189,731 1,185,855
Gross profit 107,556 119,131 147,596 79,741 81,307 152,466 153,170 76,959 454,024 463,902 514,158
Selling, general and administrative expenses                 397,811 416,038 439,737
Income (loss) from operations                 56,213 40,155 74,421
Other income (expense)                 403 (677) 678
Interest expense                 42,844 43,112 40,315
Interest income                 94 142 145
Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates                 13,866 (3,492) 34,929
Income tax expense (benefit)                 4,045 (2,592) 12,816
Equity in earnings of affiliates                 0 0 0
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest                 9,821 (900) 22,113
Noncontrolling interest                 1,017 1,029 940
Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company                 8,804 (1,929) 21,173
Parent [Member]
                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Net sales                 460,781 453,001 483,337
Cost of goods sold and occupancy                 370,492 364,120 360,236
Gross profit                 90,289 88,881 123,101
Selling, general and administrative expenses                 117,240 127,644 130,360
Income (loss) from operations                 (26,951) (38,763) (7,259)
Other income (expense)                 (186) 250 (108)
Interest expense                 42,742 42,925 40,071
Interest income                 92 140 142
Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates                 (69,415) (81,798) (47,080)
Income tax expense (benefit)                 (26,962) (46,789) (16,607)
Equity in earnings of affiliates                 51,257 33,080 51,646
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest                 8,804 (1,929) 21,173
Noncontrolling interest                 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company                 8,804 (1,929) 21,173
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Net sales                 109,453 88,822 97,804
Cost of goods sold and occupancy                 87,028 73,068 72,058
Gross profit                 22,425 15,754 25,746
Selling, general and administrative expenses                 18,230 19,340 22,564
Income (loss) from operations                 4,195 (3,586) 3,182
Other income (expense)                 (583) (398) 3
Interest expense                 218 263 396
Interest income                 2 2 2
Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates                 4,562 (3,449) 2,785
Income tax expense (benefit)                 756 (2,567) 1,477
Equity in earnings of affiliates                 0 0 0
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest                 3,806 (882) 1,308
Noncontrolling interest                 1,017 1,029 940
Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company                 2,789 (1,911) 368
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Net sales                 1,103,926 1,186,328 1,218,521
Cost of goods sold and occupancy                 757,217 821,524 847,889
Gross profit                 346,709 364,804 370,632
Selling, general and administrative expenses                 267,740 282,300 292,134
Income (loss) from operations                 78,969 82,504 78,498
Other income (expense)                 366 825 (573)
Interest expense                 (116) (76) (152)
Interest income                 0 0 1
Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates                 78,719 81,755 79,224
Income tax expense (benefit)                 30,251 46,764 27,946
Equity in earnings of affiliates                 1,506 (2,561) 1,579
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest                 49,974 32,430 52,857
Noncontrolling interest                 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company                 49,974 32,430 52,857
Eliminations [Member]
                      
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]                      
Net sales                 (69,803) (74,518) (99,649)
Cost of goods sold and occupancy                 (64,404) (68,981) (94,328)
Gross profit                 (5,399) (5,537) (5,321)
Selling, general and administrative expenses                 (5,399) (5,537) (5,321)
Income (loss) from operations                 0 0 0
Other income (expense)                 0 0 0
Interest expense                 0 0 0
Interest income                 0 0 0
Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates                 0 0 0
Income tax expense (benefit)                 0 0 0
Equity in earnings of affiliates                 (52,763) (30,519) (53,225)
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest                 (52,763) (30,519) (53,225)
Noncontrolling interest                 0 0 0
Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company                 $ (52,763) $ (30,519) $ (53,225)