Central Garden sales decline

Central Garden & Pet Company, a manufacturer and distributor of products for the lawn and garden and pet supplies market, recorded net sales von $ 438 mio in the third quarter ending on 28 June 2014. This is a marked decline compared with the same period in the previous year, with an 11 percent decrease. Revenues declined in both the company's pet and garden segments. Results suffered the negative impact of a $ 16.9 mio charge related to the discontinuance of two garden products introduced in the spring of 2013, but benefited from a $ 2 mio gain on the sale of certain fixed assets, says the company.

Net sales for the pet segment for the quarter were $ 227.1 mio, a decline of five per cent from the third quarter of 2013. The decline encompassed most pet categories and was primarily due to industry weakness and less shelf space in certain categories, as well as increased competition in the flea & tick category, according to the company. The pet segment's branded product sales for the quarter decreased $ 17.4 mio, or nine per cent, to $ 177.1 mio. Sales of other manufacturers' products increased $ 6.7 mio to $ 50 mio, an increase of 15 per cent compared with the third quarter of 2013, due primarily to increased sales in the independent channel. The pet segment's operating income was $ 28.4 mio, versus $ 33.1 mio in the comparable prior year period.