Consolidating Condensed Statement of Operations Based on Company's Understanding of SEC's Interpretation (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Dec. 27, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 307,320us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 290,521us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	219,339us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	210,780us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold
Gross profit	87,981us-gaap_GrossProfit	79,741us-gaap_GrossProfit
Selling, general and administrative expenses	86,843	88,096
Income (loss) from operations	1,138us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	(8,355)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Interest expense	(10,503)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(12,217)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Interest income	71us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest	13us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest
Other expense	(368)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	(168)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	(9,662)	(20,727)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(3,969)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(7,915)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	0	0
Loss including noncontrolling interest	(5,693)us-gaap_ProfitLoss	(12,812)us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	4	(104)
Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	(5,697)	(12,708)
Parent [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	96,962	86,233
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	78,779	68,491
Gross profit	18,183	17,742
Selling, general and administrative expenses	27,851	25,856
Income (loss) from operations	(9,668)	(8,114)
Interest expense	(10,487)	(12,190)
Interest income	70	12
Other expense	(330)	(43)
Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	(20,415)	(20,335)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(8,457)	(7,807)
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	6,261	(180)
Loss including noncontrolling interest	(5,697)	(12,708)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	(5,697)	(12,708)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	17,323	13,386
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	14,578	11,009
Gross profit	2,745	2,377
Selling, general and administrative expenses	3,999	3,417
Income (loss) from operations	(1,254)	(1,040)
Interest expense	(15)	(7)
Interest income	1	1
Other expense	0	0
Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	(1,268)	(1,046)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(444)	(315)
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	0	0
Loss including noncontrolling interest	(824)	(731)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	4	(104)
Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	(828)	(627)
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	207,125	203,022
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	139,091	142,502
Gross profit	68,034	60,520
Selling, general and administrative expenses	55,974	59,721
Income (loss) from operations	12,060	799
Interest expense	(1)	(20)
Interest income	0	0
Other expense	(38)	(125)
Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	12,021	654
Income tax expense (benefit)	4,932	207
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	(587)	(300)
Loss including noncontrolling interest	6,502	147
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	6,502	147
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(14,090)	(12,120)
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	(13,109)	(11,222)
Gross profit	(981)	(898)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(981)	(898)
Income (loss) from operations	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Interest income	0	0
Other expense	0	0
Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	0	0
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates	(5,674)	480
Loss including noncontrolling interest	(5,674)	480
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$ (5,674)	$ 480

Net income loss attributable after equity in undistributed income of guarantor subsidiaries.

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The aggregate costs related to goods produced and sold and services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. This excludes costs incurred during the reporting period related to financial services rendered and other revenue generating activities.

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Aggregate revenue less cost of goods and services sold or operating expenses directly attributable to the revenue generation activity.

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Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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This element represents the undistributed income (or loss) of equity method investments, net of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporations; such investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities.

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Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

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Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.

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Amount before accretion (amortization) of purchase discount (premium) of interest income on nonoperating securities.

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Amount of Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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The net amount of other income and expense amounts, the components of which are not separately disclosed on the income statement, resulting from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business) also known as other nonoperating income (expense) recognized for the period. Such amounts may include: (a) dividends, (b) interest on securities, (c) net gains or losses on securities, (d) unusual costs, (e) gains or losses on foreign exchange transactions, and (f) miscellaneous other income and expense items.

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The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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The aggregate total costs related to selling a firm's product and services, as well as all other general and administrative expenses. Direct selling expenses (for example, credit, warranty, and advertising) are expenses that can be directly linked to the sale of specific products. Indirect selling expenses are expenses that cannot be directly linked to the sale of specific products, for example telephone expenses, Internet, and postal charges. General and administrative expenses include salaries of non-sales personnel, rent, utilities, communication, etc.

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