Central Garden & Pet (CENT) exec delivers shares for tax, moves stock to trust

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Central Garden & Pet’s President of Pet Consumer Products, John Edward Hanson, reported two Class A common stock transactions on February 6, 2026. He delivered 1,636 shares at $33.60 per share to cover withholding taxes on vested restricted stock, and separately disposed of 2,165 directly held shares by transferring them to the Hanson Family Trust.

After these transactions, Hanson directly owned 41,279 Class A shares, held 2,693.61 units in the company’s 401(k) CENTA Stock Fund, and 12,155 Class A shares were held by the Hanson Family Trust, for which he disclaims beneficial ownership except for his pecuniary interest.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

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

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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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^*

Hanson John Edward

(Last) (First) (Middle)

1340 TREAT BLVD

SUITE 600

(Street)

WALNUT CREEK CA 94597-7578

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO [ CENT ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	President, Pet Consumer Prod

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/06/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Class A Common Stock	02/06/2026		F(1)		1,636	D	$33.6	43,444	D
Class A Common Stock	02/06/2026		D		2,165	D	$33.6	41,279(2)	D
Units								2,693.61	I	By 401(k) Plan(3)
Class A Common Stock								12,155	I	By Hanson Family Trust(4)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. Shares delivered by Reporting Person in payment of the withholding tax liability upon vesting of restricted stock. The amount of shares withheld is based on the average of the high and low of the sales prices of CENTA on February 6, 2026.

2. On February 6, 2026, the Reporting Person transferred 2165 shares of directly held CENTA to Hanson Family Trust.

3. The units represent interests in the CENTA Stock Fund in the Issuer's 401(k) Plan, which consist of shares of CENTA stock and cash.

4. Mr. Hanson disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of the Company's Common Stock and Class A Common Stock owned by the Hanson Family Trust dated 01/19/2024 except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

	/s/ Filomena Eickstaedt as Attorney-in-Fact for John Hanson	02/09/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
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).
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FAQ

What insider transactions did CENT President John Hanson report on February 6, 2026?

John Hanson reported two transactions on February 6, 2026. He delivered 1,636 Class A shares at $33.60 to cover tax withholding on vested restricted stock and transferred 2,165 directly held shares to the Hanson Family Trust as a disposition.

How many Central Garden & Pet (CENT) shares does John Hanson own after this Form 4?

After the reported transactions, John Hanson directly owns 41,279 CENT Class A shares. He also has 2,693.61 units in the company’s 401(k) CENTA Stock Fund and 12,155 Class A shares are held by the Hanson Family Trust, subject to his beneficial ownership disclaimer.

Why were 1,636 CENT Class A shares delivered by John Hanson on February 6, 2026?

The 1,636 Class A shares were delivered to pay Hanson’s withholding tax liability when restricted stock vested. The number of shares withheld was based on the average of the high and low CENTA sales prices on February 6, 2026, at $33.60 per share.

What is the nature of John Hanson’s transfer of 2,165 CENT shares to the Hanson Family Trust?

Hanson’s Form 4 shows a disposition of 2,165 directly held CENTA shares to the Hanson Family Trust. A footnote clarifies he disclaims beneficial ownership of shares held by the trust, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest in those securities.

How are John Hanson’s CENT holdings in the 401(k) Plan reported?

Hanson’s interest in the issuer’s 401(k) Plan is reported as 2,693.61 units in the CENTA Stock Fund. These units consist of a mix of CENTA stock and cash, and are classified as indirectly owned through the company’s 401(k) plan structure.

What beneficial ownership disclaimer did John Hanson make regarding the Hanson Family Trust’s CENT shares?

Hanson disclaims beneficial ownership of the company’s Common Stock and Class A Common Stock held by the Hanson Family Trust dated January 19, 2024, except for his pecuniary interest. This means he does not claim full beneficial ownership beyond his economic stake.