Increasing numbers

Central Garden & Pet Company announced results for its first quarter ended 25 December 2010. The company reported first-quarter net sales of $282 million, an increase of 5 per cent over the same period a year ago. Net sales for the pet products segment were $187 million, an increase of 3 per cent compared to $182 million in the year-ago period. Operating income for the pet products segment was $11.4 million, compared to $17.6 million in the comparable prior-year period. Branded product sales were $151 million, an increase of $5 million compared to last year. The pet segment’s sales of other manufacturers’ products were $36 million and remained flat compared to last year. The company reported an operating loss of $6.5 million compared to operating income of $0.5 million in the comparable prior-year period due primarily to rising grain and other raw material prices and increased marketing and brand building expenditures. The net loss for the quarter was $9.6 million, or $0.16 per share compared to a net loss of $2.9 million or $0.04 per share in the year-ago period.