CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Check the appropriate box:

Central Garden & Pet Company

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY1340 Treat Blvd., Suite 600Walnut Creek, California 94597

Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be Held on Wednesday, February 11, 2026

To the Shareholders:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Central Garden & Pet Company will be held virtually over the Internet on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 10:30 A.M. Pacific Time for the following purposes, which are more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice of Annual Meeting of shareholders:

The Board of Directors recommends that you vote:

Only holders of record of Common Stock and Class B Stock on the books of the Company as of 5:00 P.M. Pacific Time, December 15, 2025, will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof. Holders of Class A Common Stock are welcome to participate in the Annual Meeting. A complete list of the Company’s shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available for examination by any shareholder for 10 days prior to the Annual Meeting during normal business hours at the Company’s principal executive offices at 1340 Treat Blvd., Suite 600, Walnut Creek, California, 94597.

Shareholders may participate and vote shares electronically at the virtual Annual Meeting and submit questions by following the instructions at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/CENT2026.

Except for those shareholders who have already requested printed copies of the Company’s proxy materials, the Company is furnishing proxy materials for the Annual Meeting to shareholders through the Internet. On or about December 22, 2025, the Company mailed to shareholders on the record date a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “Notice”). Certain shareholders who previously requested email notice in lieu of mail received the Notice by email. If a shareholder received a Notice by mail or email, that shareholder will not receive a printed copy of the proxy materials unless such shareholder specifically requests one. Instead, the Notice instructs shareholders on how to access and review all of the important information contained in the Proxy Statement and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 27, 2025 (which the Company posted on the Internet on December 22, 2025), as well as how to submit proxies over the Internet. The Company believes that mailing or emailing the Notice and posting other materials on the Internet allow it to provide shareholders with the information they need while lowering the costs of delivery and reducing the environmental impact of the Annual Meeting. If a shareholder received the Notice and would still like to receive a printed copy of the proxy materials, such shareholder may request a printed copy of the proxy materials by any of the following methods: through the Internet at www.proxyvote.com; by telephone at 1-800-579-1639; or by sending an email to sendmaterial@proxyvote.com.

Whether or not you plan to participate in the Annual Meeting, please vote as soon as possible in accordance with the instructions provided to you to ensure that your vote is counted at the Annual Meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors

George A. Yuhas

Secretary

Dated: December 22, 2025

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