Central Garden & Pet Partners with Cal Athletics to Champion Pet Welfare and Celebrate the Human–Animal Bond

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT), (NASDAQ: CENTA), a leading company in the pet and garden industries, has partnered with Cal to promote pet welfare and celebrate the powerful bond between people and their pets.

Central’s commitment was highlighted at Cal’s football home opener against Texas Southern. Central CEO Niko Lahanas, CFO Brad Smith and Senior VP of Human Resources Marilyn Leahey joined the coin toss ceremony and presented a $10,000 donation to the East Bay SPCA. Accepting the check was Julie Henderson, VP of Philanthropy at the East Bay SPCA.

As part of the collaboration, Central’s trusted brands, Nylabone^® and Cadet^® are now the official pet toys, chews and treats of Cal Athletics. Throughout the season, Central and Cal will spotlight pet adoptions and engage fans through various activities and events, including the popular Cal Pet of the Game feature, where fans can share photos of their pet in Cal gear for a chance to win tickets and be featured at Cal home football and basketball games.

The partnership also introduces Oski’s Pup Club, an exclusive (and free) membership program for Cal’s four-legged fans and their families. Members receive an official Pup Club certificate, quarterly newsletters, invitations to pet-friendly special events like Bark at the Park, and special offers. Fans can join by visiting www.calbears.com/pupclub.

“We are excited to partner with Central Garden & Pet and are grateful for their support of Cal Athletics,” Cal Co-Directors of Athletics Jenny Simon-O'Neill and Jay Larson said. “The planned engagements and activities will help foster the greater sense of community our department continually strives to achieve.”

Central’s commitment to pets and community was also highlighted at Cal’s football home opener against Texas Southern, where the company served as the game’s presenting sponsor. Central CEO Niko Lahanas, CFO Brad Smith and Senior VP of Human Resources Marilyn Leahey joined the coin toss ceremony and presented a $10,000 donation to the East Bay SPCA. Accepting the check was Julie Henderson, Vice President of Philanthropy at the East Bay SPCA, who thanked Central for its ongoing support of the organization’s life-changing adoption and welfare programs.

“As a proud Cal alum, I’m especially excited to see Central Garden & Pet partner with Cal Athletics in a way that unites our passions for community, education, and pet welfare,” said Niko Lahanas, CEO of Central Garden & Pet. “Through our Central Impact program, we’re committed to creating positive change where we live and work, and this partnership — together with the East Bay SPCA — is a great example of that commitment in action. It’s about celebrating the bond between people and their pets, while giving back to the East Bay community that means so much to us.”

About Central Garden & Pet

Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) understands that home is central to life and has proudly nurtured happy and healthy homes for over 40 years. With fiscal 2024 net sales of $3.2 billion, Central is on a mission to lead the future of the pet and garden industries. The Company’s innovative and trusted products are dedicated to helping lawns grow greener, gardens bloom bigger, pets live healthier, and communities grow stronger. Central is home to a leading portfolio of more than 65 high-quality brands including Amdro^®, Aqueon^®, Cadet^®, C&S^®, Farnam^®, Ferry-Morse^®, Four Paws^®, Kaytee^®, Nylabone^® and Pennington^®, strong manufacturing and distribution capabilities, and a passionate, entrepreneurial growth culture. Central is based in Walnut Creek, California, with over 6,000 employees primarily across North America. Visit www.central.com to learn more.

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Investor & Media Contact

Friederike Edelmann

VP of Investor Relations & Corporate Sustainability

(925) 412 6726

fedelmann@central.com

Source: Central Garden & Pet Company