EXHIBIT 99.1
[CENTRAL GARDEN & PET LETTERHEAD APPEARS HERE]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Contacts: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Central Garden & Pet
(000) 000-0000
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx/Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx & Co.
(000) 000-0000
CENTRAL GARDEN & PET WELCOMES
MONSANTO AGREEMENT WITH XXXXXX
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LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA, June 26, 1998 -- Central Garden & Pet Company
(NASDAQ:CENT) -- master agent/distributor for Solaris products nationwide,
including the Ortho, Roundup and GreenSweep lawn and garden products -- today
welcomed Monsanto Company's announced sale of Ortho to The Scotts Company (NYSE:
SMG), and an agreement for Scotts to market Roundup.
Xxxx Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, "We're
pleased that Xxxxxx -- with whom we have had an excellent relationship for many
years on Miracle-Gro/R/ and other brands -- has emerged as the buyer of Ortho
and xxxxxxx of the Roundup brand. Xxxxxx is a proven builder of excellent brands
and consumer products for lawn and garden and other businesses and we look
forward to the likelihood of expanding our relationship with them."
Under its 1995 agreement with Solaris, Central -- as master agent/
distributor for Solaris products -- maintains a nationwide network of
sub-distributors carrying Solaris products, and provides a wide range of
value-added services to Solaris retailers including logistics, order processing
and fulfillment, inventory distribution and merchandising. The agreement
continues until September 30, 1999.
"While we have enjoyed a good and mutually productive relationship with
Solaris over the past few years, we had indicated to Solaris our interest in
achieving modifications to the contract that we believe would have been in the
best interests of both parties. At the appropriate time, we intend to discuss
our ideas with Xxxxxx."
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2
Central Garden & Pet Company is the leading national distributor of
lawn and garden and pet supply products. Central offers customers a wide array
of value-added services designed to increase the sales and profitability of both
manufacturers and retailers, including inventory management, advertising and
promotional programs, in-store service and display building and sales program
development. Central also offers lines of proprietary branded products which
include Xxxxxxxxxx/R/, Kaytee/R/, TFH/R/, Zodiac/R/, and Four Paws/R/ pet
products, Island/R/ aquariums, Xxxxxxxx/R/ redwood products and Grant's/R/ ant
control products.
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