Central Garden & Pet (CENT) grants stock and options to president

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Central Garden & Pet executive equity grants. Central Garden & Pet officer John Edward Hanson, President of Pet Consumer Products, was granted 7,813 shares of restricted Class A Common Stock at $0 per share, increasing his directly held Class A Common Stock to 49,092 shares.

He was also granted a stock option for 2,797 shares of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $33.49 per share. Both the restricted stock and options vest 25% on February 11, 2028 and February 11, 2029, and 50% on February 11, 2030. In addition, he indirectly holds 2,693.61 units in the company’s 401(k) plan stock fund.

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

OMB APPROVAL

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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)
02/11/2026

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	02/11/2026		A(1)		7,813	D	$0	49,092	D
Units								2,693.61	I	By 401(k) Plan(2)

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
Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$33.49	02/11/2026		A		2,797		(3)	02/11/2032	Class A Common Stock	2,797	$0	2,797	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. On February 11, 2026, the Issuer granted restricted Class A Common Stock to the Reporting Person which will vest at the rates of 25% on February 11, 2028 and February 11, 2029, and 50% on February 11, 2030.

2. 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.

3. The options shall vest at the rates of 25% on February 11, 2028 and February 11, 2029, and 50% on February 11, 2030.

Remarks:

Exhibit 24.1; Power of Attorney

	/s/ Filomena Eickstaedt as Attorney-in-Fact for John Hanson	02/12/2026
	** 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).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
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FAQ

What insider transactions did John Edward Hanson report for CENTRAL GARDEN & PET (CENT)?

John Edward Hanson reported receiving equity awards from Central Garden & Pet. He was granted 7,813 restricted Class A Common shares and a stock option for 2,797 shares at an exercise price of $33.49, both vesting over 2028–2030, with no cash purchase involved.

How many Central Garden & Pet Class A shares does John Edward Hanson now own directly?

After the reported awards, John Edward Hanson directly holds 49,092 shares of Central Garden & Pet Class A Common Stock. This total includes the newly granted 7,813 restricted shares that were awarded at no cash cost and are scheduled to vest between 2028 and 2030.

What are the vesting terms of John Edward Hanson’s restricted stock grant at CENTRAL (CENT)?

The restricted Class A Common Stock grant of 7,813 shares vests in three steps. It vests 25% on February 11, 2028, another 25% on February 11, 2029, and the remaining 50% on February 11, 2030, subject to the award’s standard conditions.

What are the key terms of John Edward Hanson’s stock option grant from Central Garden & Pet?

The stock option covers 2,797 shares of Class A Common Stock with an exercise price of $33.49 per share. It vests on the same schedule as the restricted stock: 25% in 2028, 25% in 2029, and 50% in 2030, expiring on February 11, 2032.

Does John Edward Hanson hold Central Garden & Pet shares through a retirement plan?

Yes. He indirectly holds 2,693.61 units in the company’s 401(k) plan stock fund. These units represent interests in the CENTA Stock Fund, which is made up of shares of Central Garden & Pet Class A stock and cash within the retirement plan structure.

Was John Edward Hanson’s Form 4 transaction a market purchase or a grant from CENTRAL (CENT)?

The reported activity reflects equity grants, not open-market purchases. He received 7,813 restricted Class A shares and a 2,797-share stock option as awards, both at a reported transaction price of $0, indicating compensation rather than a cash investment.