Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

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

v2.4.1.9
Segment Information - Financial Information Relating to Company's Business Segments (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Mar. 28, 2015
Mar. 29, 2014
Mar. 28, 2015
Mar. 29, 2014
Sep. 27, 2014
Net sales:          
Net sales $ 497,602us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 501,611us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 804,922us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet $ 792,132us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet  
Income (loss) from operations:          
Income (loss) from operations 49,971us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 44,769us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 51,109us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 36,414us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss  
Interest expense - net (11,858)us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNonoperatingNet (10,389)us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNonoperatingNet (22,290)us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNonoperatingNet (22,593)us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNonoperatingNet  
Other income (expense) (121)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense 108us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense (489)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense (60)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense  
Income taxes 14,012us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 12,999us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 10,043us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit 5,084us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Income including noncontrolling interest 23,980us-gaap_ProfitLoss 21,489us-gaap_ProfitLoss 18,287us-gaap_ProfitLoss 8,677us-gaap_ProfitLoss  
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 743us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest 594us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest 747us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest 490us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest  
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company 23,237us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 20,895us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 17,540us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 8,187us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss  
Depreciation and amortization:          
Total depreciation and amortization 8,350us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization 9,192us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization 16,814us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization 17,512us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization  
Assets:          
Total assets 1,273,008us-gaap_Assets 1,294,347us-gaap_Assets 1,273,008us-gaap_Assets 1,294,347us-gaap_Assets 1,148,727us-gaap_Assets
Goodwill (included in corporate assets above):          
Goodwill 209,089us-gaap_Goodwill 205,756us-gaap_Goodwill 209,089us-gaap_Goodwill 205,756us-gaap_Goodwill 208,233us-gaap_Goodwill
Operating Segments [Member] | Pet Segment [Member]          
Net sales:          
Net sales 221,485us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
216,744us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
420,805us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
401,349us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
 
Income (loss) from operations:          
Income (loss) from operations 27,051us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
24,193us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
47,626us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
38,579us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
 
Depreciation and amortization:          
Total depreciation and amortization 3,878us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
4,484us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
7,819us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
8,370us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
 
Assets:          
Total assets 450,240us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
434,059us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
450,240us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
434,059us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
414,279us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
Goodwill (included in corporate assets above):          
Goodwill 209,089us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
205,756us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
209,089us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
205,756us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
208,233us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_PetMember
Operating Segments [Member] | Garden Segment [Member]          
Net sales:          
Net sales 276,117us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
284,867us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
384,117us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
390,783us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
 
Income (loss) from operations:          
Income (loss) from operations 39,325us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
36,799us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
35,790us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
30,568us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
 
Depreciation and amortization:          
Total depreciation and amortization 1,483us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
1,832us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
3,049us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
3,405us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
 
Assets:          
Total assets 490,514us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
521,663us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
490,514us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
521,663us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
337,461us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_OperatingSegmentsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cent_GardenMember
Corporate [Member]          
Income (loss) from operations:          
Income (loss) from operations (16,405)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
(16,223)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
(32,307)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
(32,733)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
 
Depreciation and amortization:          
Total depreciation and amortization 2,989us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
2,876us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
5,946us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
5,737us-gaap_DepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
 
Assets:          
Total assets $ 332,254us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
$ 338,625us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
$ 332,254us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
$ 338,625us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember
$ 396,987us-gaap_Assets
/ us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateNonSegmentMember