Net sales for the pet segment increased

Central Garden & Pet Company, a leading supplier of pet and garden products in the USA, has announced financial results for its fiscal third quarter ending on 24 June. Third-quarter net sales for the pet segment increased by 9.1 per cent to $313.4 mio from the same period a year ago. Pet organic sales grew by 1.7 per cent, impacted to some degree by timing differences compared to the previous year. The pet segment's third-quarter branded product sales were $254.3 mio, up 11.7 per cent compared to a year ago and sales of other manufacturers' products were $59.0 mio, a decrease of 0.8 per cent. The pet segment's operating income decreased by 6.9 per cent compared to the third quarter a year ago to $36.1 mio. Pet operating margin decreased to 11.5 per cent, a decline of 200 basis points compared to the third quarter a year ago. The prior year period's operating margin benefited from a $2.4 mio gain from the sale of a manufacturing facility. Excluding the impact of the sale, pet operating margin declined 120 basis points.