Strengthened financial position

Central Garden & Pet announced fourth quarter and full year results for its fiscal year ended 27 September. The company reported net sales of $ 414 million in the fourth quarter, an increase of three per cent compared to $ 401 million in the comparable fiscal 2007 period. Net sales for the pet products segment in the quarter were $ 226 million, an increase of two per cent compared to the year-ago period. Operating income for the pet products segment was $ 31.6 million, an increase of 83 per cent, compared to $ 17.3 million in the year-ago period. For fiscal 2008, the company reported net sales of $ 1 705 million, an increase of two per cent from $ 1 671 million in fiscal 2007.