# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001215870
**File Stem:** 0000950170-25-109793
**Filing Date:** 2025-8
**Character Count:** 7248
**Document Hash:** 51e53ba4e1e39b4b41ab59d79b5e50b3
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0000950170-25-109793.hdr.sgml**: 20250818

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0000950170-25-109793

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 4

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 1

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20250814

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20250818

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20250818

**REPORTING-OWNER**: 

**OWNER DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** METZ CHRISTOPHER T
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001215870

**ORGANIZATION NAME:**

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 4
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-33268
- **FILM NUMBER:** 251228533

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** BLACK & DECKER CORP
- **STREET 2:** 701 EAST JOPPA ROAD
- **CITY:** TOWSON
- **STATE:** MD
- **ZIP:** 21286
**ISSUER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000887733
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** WHOLESALE-MISCELLANEOUS NONDURABLE GOODS [5190]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 07 Trade & Services
- **EIN:** 680275553
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** DE
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 0927

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1340 TREAT BOULEVARD
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 600
- **CITY:** WALNUT CREEK
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 94597
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 9259484000

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 1340 TREAT BOULEVARD
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 600
- **CITY:** WALNUT CREEK
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 94597

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 19941019

### UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
**Washington, D.C. 20549**

## FORM 4

### STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

[ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

[ ] Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **1. Name and Address of Reporting Person**<sup>*</sup><br>METZ CHRISTOPHER T<br><sub>(Last) (First) (Middle)</sub><br>C/O CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY<br>1340 TREAT BLVD, SUITE 600<br><sub>(Street)</sub><br>WALNUT CREEK, CA 94597<br><sub>(City) (State) (Zip)</sub> | **3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)**<br>2025-08-14 | **5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer**<br>(Check all applicable)<br>[X] Director [ ] 10% Owner<br>[ ] Officer (give title below) [ ] Other (specify below)<br>_ _ |
| **2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol**<br>CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO [ CENT ] | **4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)**<br>  | **6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)**<br>[X] Form filed by One Reporting Person<br>[ ] Form filed by More than One Reporting Person |

---

## Table I - Non-Derivative Securities

---

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Security | 2. Transaction Date | 2A. Deemed Execution Date | 3. Transaction Code (V) | 3. Transaction Code (V) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned | 6. Ownership Form | 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| 1. Title of Security | 2. Transaction Date | 2A. Deemed Execution Date | Code | V | Amount | (A) or (D) | Price | 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned | 6. Ownership Form | 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| Class A Common Stock | 2025-08-14 |  | M |  | 8803 | A | 22.72<sup>(1)</sup> | 27795 | D |  |
| Class A Common Stock | 2025-08-14 |  | F<sup>(2)</sup> |  | 6074 | D | $32.93 | 21721 | D |  |

---

## Table II - Derivative Securities

---

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | 2. Conversion or Exercise Price | 3. Transaction Date | 3A. Deemed Execution Date | 4. Transaction Code (V) | 4. Transaction Code (V) | 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) | 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date | 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date | 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities | 8. Price of Derivative Security | 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned | 10. Ownership Form | 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| 1. Title of Derivative Security | 2. Conversion or Exercise Price | 3. Transaction Date | 3A. Deemed Execution Date | Code | V | (A) | (D) | Date Exercisable | Expiration Date | Title | Amount or Number of Shares | 8. Price of Derivative Security | 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned | 10. Ownership Form | 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership |
| Stock Option (Right to Buy) | 22.72<sup>(3)</sup> | 2025-08-14 |  | M |  |  | 8803<sup>(3)</sup> | <sup>(4)</sup> | 2026-02-11 | Class A Common Stock<sup>(3)</sup> | 8803<sup>(3)</sup> | $0 | 0 | D |  |

---

### Footnotes:

(1) On December 7, 2023, Company declared a stock dividend, payable to all holders on record of Common Stock and Class A Common Stock as of January 8, 2024, of one share of Class A Common Stock for every four shares of Common Stock and Class A Common Stock outstanding.  At the same time, pursuant to anti-dilution provisions, an option for 7,043 shares Class A Common Stock on January 8, 2024 became exercisable for 8,803 shares of Class A Common Stock.

(2) Shares withheld by the Issuer in payment of the aggregate option exercise price incurred upon the above-reported exercise of options. The amount of shares withheld is based on the respective average of the high and low sales prices on the date of exercise.

(3) This option was previously reported as an option for 7,043 shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $28.40 per share, but was adjusted to reflect the stock dividend declared by Company on December 7, 2023.  As a result of the stock dividend, the option also entitled the Reporting Person to receive, upon exercise, 1,760 shares of Class A Common Stock for no additional consideration.

(4) Options were granted on February 11, 2020, and all shares are vested and have been exercised.

**Signature:** /s/Filomena Eickstaedt as Attorney-in-Fact for Christopher Metz  
**Date:** 2025-08-18

### Remarks:

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

**Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.**