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X UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington , D.C. 20549 FORM 10 - K ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15 ( d ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended September 25 , 2021 OR TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15 ( d ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to Commission File Number 1-33268 Central Garden & Pet Company ( Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter ) Delaware ( State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization ) 1340 Treat Boulevard , Suite 600 , Walnut Creek , California 94597 ( Address of principal executive offices ) ( Zip Code ) Telephone Number : ( 925 ) 948-4000 68-0275553 ( IRS Employer Identification Number ) SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 ( b ) OF THE ACT : Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered Title of Each Class Trading Symbol ( s ) . Common Stock The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC Class A Common Stock CENT CENTA SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 ( g ) OF THE ACT : None Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well - known seasoned issuer , as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act . No Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15 ( d ) of the Act . Yes No X Indicate by check mark whether the registrant ( 1 ) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 ( d ) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports ) , and ( 2 ) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days . Yes No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S - T ( § 232.405 of this chapter ) during the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files ) . Yes No Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer Smaller reporting company ☐ Emerging growth company O Yes > Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer , an accelerated filer , a non - accelerated filer , smaller reporting company , or an emerging growth company . See the definitions of " large accelerated filer , " " accelerated filer , " " smaller reporting company , " and " emerging growth company " in Rule 12b - 2 of the Exchange Act . Non - accelerated filer ■ If an emerging growth company , indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13 ( a ) of the Exchange Act . Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 ( b ) of the Sarbanes - Oxley Act ( 15 U.S.C. 7262 ( b ) ) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report . Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company ( as defined in Rule 12b - 2 of the Exchange Act ) . No > Yes At March 27 , 2021 , the aggregate market value of the registrant's Common Stock , Class A Common Stock and Class B Stock held by non - affiliates of the registrant was approximately $ 554.1 million , $ 2.0 billion and $ 109 thousand , respectively . At November 12 , 2021 , the number of shares outstanding of the registrant's Common Stock was 11,335,658 and the number of shares of Class A Common Stock was 42,201,238 . In addition , on such date , the registrant had outstanding 1,612,374 shares of its Class B Stock , which are convertible into Common Stock on a share - for - share basis .