Velarion · Company Intelligence
Compensation Brief
Fiscal year 2025 · Filings through 2026-06-26

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO (CENTA)

Fiscal year 2025 executive and director compensation, incentive-plan design, equity activity, and governance — every figure in this brief is traceable to its exact location in the company’s SEC filing — the document, the section, the page, and the table, linked directly.

$2,059,747
John Hanson total, FY2025
President, Pet Consumer Productshighest-paid officer; CEO Nicholas Lahanas: $1,905,762
1st
CEO (Nicholas Lahanas) pay percentile vs peers
40:1
CEO-to-median pay ratio
98.68%
Say-on-pay support, latest vote
Companies that benchmark against CENTA
1 company names CENTA as a compensation peer

Each company listed discloses CENTA in its own benchmarking peer group, as disclosed in each company's most recent proxy statement within the last two proxy seasons. Two companies are therefore absent by design: one that named CENTA in an earlier year and no longer does, and one whose own most recent disclosure is older than the last two seasons.

01

Summary Compensation Table — fiscal year 2025

Named executive officerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension / NQDCAll otherTotal
John Hanson$560,423$0$1,449,992$0$0$0$49,332$2,059,747
President, Pet Consumer Products
Nicholas Lahanas893,36501,000,02200012,3751,905,762
Chief Executive Officer and Former Chief Financial Officer
William Brown306,50801,200,01900028,7711,535,298
Chairman of the Board of Directors
John Walker563,3790250,00600045,550858,935
President, Garden Consumer Products
Bradley Smith448,4350250,00600037,596736,037
Chief Financial Officer

A dash means the company reported no figure in that column; 0 means it reported zero. Figures are as printed in the filing, without adjustment.

Three-year trend — total compensation per named executive

Named executive officerFY2025 totalFY2024 totalFY2023 totalΔ FY20242025
John Hanson$2,059,747$1,171,364$1,171,949+888,383
Nicholas Lahanas1,905,7621,176,285992,352+729,477
William Brown1,535,298902,951883,205+632,347
John Walker858,9351,007,425988,733−148,490
Bradley Smith736,037

Prior-year totals as disclosed in the corresponding proxy; deltas are computed values with the derivation shown in the register.

02

Equity transactions since the proxy statement was filed

No insider equity transactions reported since the proxy statement.

03

Grants of plan-based awards — fiscal year 2025

ExecutiveAwardGrant dateThresholdTargetGrantedMaximumGrant-date fair value
William BrownRSU2025-02-1122,302$750,016
William BrownRSU2025-02-1113,381450,003
John HansonPSU2025-02-112,4163,7178,363125,003
John HansonRSU2025-02-1135,6821,199,986
John HansonRSU2025-02-113,717
Nicholas LahanasPSU2025-02-119,66414,86833,453500,011
Nicholas LahanasRSU2025-02-1114,868
Bradley SmithRSU2025-02-113,717
Bradley SmithPSU2025-02-112,4163,7178,363125,003
John WalkerRSU2025-02-113,717
John WalkerPSU2025-02-112,4163,7178,363125,003
03b

Vehicle mix — grant-date fair value by award type

Named executive officerTime-vested (RSU)Performance-vested (PSU)Options / SARs% performance-vested
William Brown$1,200,019$0$00.0%
John Hanson1,199,986125,00309.4%
Nicholas Lahanas0500,0110100.0%
Bradley Smith0125,0030100.0%
John Walker0125,0030100.0%

% performance-vested = PSU grant-date fair value ÷ (RSU + PSU + Options), a computed value with the derivation shown in the register.

04

Outstanding equity awards at fiscal year-end 2025

ExecutiveAwardShares unvestedExercise priceMarket value unvested
John HansonRSU35,682$1,070,817
William BrownRSU22,302669,283
Nicholas LahanasRSU21,930658,119
John WalkerRSU21,930658,119
Nicholas LahanasRSU14,868446,189
Nicholas LahanasPSU14,868446,189
William BrownRSU13,837415,248
William BrownRSU13,534406,155
John HansonPSU3,751112,568
William BrownRSU13,381401,563
William BrownRSU9,005270,240
Nicholas LahanasPSU3,844115,358
John HansonPSU3,844115,358
John WalkerPSU3,844115,358
Nicholas LahanasRSU3,788113,678
William BrownRSU3,786113,618
Nicholas LahanasRSU3,759112,808
Nicholas LahanasPSU3,759112,808
John HansonRSU3,759112,808
John HansonPSU3,759112,808
John WalkerRSU3,759112,808
John WalkerPSU3,759112,808
Nicholas LahanasPSU3,751112,568
John WalkerPSU3,751112,568
Bradley SmithRSU3,717111,547
Bradley SmithPSU3,717111,547
John HansonRSU3,717111,547
John HansonPSU3,717111,547
John WalkerRSU3,717111,547
John WalkerPSU3,717111,547
Bradley SmithRSU3,00790,240
Nicholas LahanasRSU1,92257,679
John HansonRSU1,92257,679
John WalkerRSU1,92257,679
Bradley SmithPSU1,15334,602
Bradley SmithRSU1,12733,821
Bradley SmithPSU1,12733,821
Bradley SmithPSU1,12533,761
Bradley SmithRSU57617,286
05

Incentive-plan design — the Compensation Discussion & Analysis

The Company's compensation program is designed to recruit and retain high-caliber executives and incentivize superior financial results by aligning executive incentives with shareholders' interests. The program emphasizes pay for performance, with a substantial portion of total compensation weighted toward incentive compensation (annual bonus and long-term equity) to reward progress against corporate operating goals and long-term stock price performance.

CEO STI target (% of salary)
CEO LTI target (% of salary)
Independent consultantPay Governance
Clawback policytrue
Anti-hedgingtrue
Anti-pledgingfalse
06

Say-on-pay — recent advisory votes

Meeting yearMeeting dateForAgainstAbstainSupportOutcome
20262026-02-1116,346,943218,08470,79498.68%Passed
20232023-02-0719,179,403640,46610,79396.77%Passed
20202020-02-1118,646,1841,454,60049,26392.76%Passed
20172017-02-1419,695,672170,75513,85599.14%Passed

Rows are labeled by annual-meeting year, with the meeting date beside each; the vote held in a given year acts on the prior fiscal year's compensation.

Say-on-pay — history, company's computation

Meeting yearMeeting dateApproval — company's computation
20262026-02-1198.68%a
20232023-02-0796.77%b
20202020-02-1192.76%c

a. Voting standard not stated in the filing.

b. Voting standard not stated in the filing.

c. Voting standard not stated in the filing.

Approval percentages are the company's own reported computations under its own stated standard, not recomputed by Velarion. Where a company does not state a standard, none is assumed.

07

CEO pay ratio

Ratio (CEO : median employee)40 : 1
CEO total compensation$1,905,762
Median employee compensation$49,985
08

Director compensation — fiscal year 2025

DirectorCash feesStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveAll otherTotal
Randal D. LewisIndependent · Compensation$99,000$119,986$0$41,355$260,341
Mary Beth SpringerIndependent · Lead Independent Director · Compensation · Talent, Capabilities & Succession122,000119,98600241,986
Brendan P. DougherIndependent · Audit (Chair)106,500119,98600226,486
Lisa ColemanIndependent · Audit · Not standing for re-election104,500119,98600224,486
John R. RanelliIndependent · Executive · Investment · Talent, Capabilities & Succession94,500119,98600214,486
Courtnee ChunIndependent · Audit · Executive · Investment86,500119,98600206,486
Brooks M. Pennington IIINot independent · Executive · Investment · Talent, Capabilities & Succession82,500119,98600202,486
Christopher T. MetzIndependent77,000119,98600196,986
Michael J. GriffithIndependent · Departed during FY11,50000011,500
Nicholas LahanasEmployee director · Executive0
William E. BrownEmployee director · Board Chair · Executive · Investment0
09

Board fee structure and ownership guideline

Annual cash retainer$15,000
Annual equity retainer
Per board meeting fee$1,500
Committee chair fees (audit / comp / nom-gov)20,000 / 15,000
Stock ownership guideline$300,000
09b

Total cost of the board

ComponentFY2025
Cash retainers and fees$784,000
Equity awards (grant-date value)$959,888
All other compensation$41,355
Total cost of the board$1,785,243

Computed as the sum of the director compensation table rows above; inputs and formula shown in the register.

10

Disclosed peer group — fiscal year 2025

The compensation peer group as the company disclosed it in its own proxy — the reference set behind the percentile above.

10a

Peer reciprocity

Of the companies CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO names as compensation peers, which name it back in their own disclosed peer groups. A peer set the market reciprocates reads differently from one selected in a single direction.

Reciprocity shown where the peer's own current proxy has been read — each mark is cited in the register to that peer's filing. A dash means the peer's current proxy was read and names no reciprocal group including CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO.

10b

Chief executive pay against the peer group

Most recent fiscal-year chief executive compensation at each disclosed peer, taken from that company's own proxy statement.

RankCompanyFYChief executiveSalaryStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveTotal
1The Clorox Company2025Linda Rendle$1,307,692$9,754,753$0$1,696,000$13,333,032
2Newell Brands Inc.2025Christopher Peterson1,341,6678,999,99301,878,33312,497,912
3Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.2025James Hagedorn1,200,0003,050,9502,805,8953,796,81512,299,261
4Energizer Holdings Inc.2025Mark LaVigne1,045,5008,605,08401,145,66510,972,516
5J.M. Smucker Co.2026Mark Smucker1,221,1546,274,43802,143,12610,935,216
6Church & Dwight Co.2025Richard Dierker986,5801,770,9735,313,1001,472,6569,799,678
7Edgewell Personal Care Co.2025Rod Little1,100,0007,576,1000907,5009,754,366
8Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc.2025David Maura900,0006,750,0040907,2008,757,036
9Helen of Troy Ltd.2026Noel Geoffroy177,0003,800,000039,9824,070,466
10CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO2025Nicholas Lahanas893,3651,000,022001,905,762

Each peer's compensation is from its most recently filed proxy; fiscal years differ by company. Each peer's figures come from its own filings; the subject company is highlighted. Peers whose chief executive compensation is outside our coverage universe are stated as such, never left blank.

10c

Incentive design against the same peers

CompanyAnnual incentive payoutLong-term vehicle mixPSU measures include TSRCompensation consultant
CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COnot disclosednot disclosednot disclosedPay Governance
Church & Dwight Co.125%Options 75 · PSU 15 · RSU 10NoSemler Brossy Consulting Group
Edgewell Personal Care Co.66%not disclosedNoMeridian
Energizer Holdings Inc.87.67%PSU 70 · RSU 30NoFarient
Helen of Troy Ltd.16.3%PSU 50 · RSU 50NoFW Cook
J.M. Smucker Co.117%PSU 60 · RSU 40NoSemler Brossy
Newell Brands Inc.80%PSU 50 · RSU 50NoPearl Meyer
Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.165.8%PSU 50 · Options 50Yes — Absolute TSR (aTSR)Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.
Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc.not disclosedPSU 70 · RSU 30NoWTW (Willis Towers Watson)
The Clorox Company80%PSU 60 · RSU 40NoFW Cook

Read from each company's Compensation Discussion and Analysis: annual incentive payout as a percentage of target, the disclosed long-term vehicle mix, whether performance-share measures include a total shareholder return component, and the retained compensation consultant. “Not disclosed” appears only where the company's filing does not state the item.

11

Source register

Each figure's location is given both for the eye (section · page · table · row · column) and for a script (table/row/column index and exact character span in the filed document). Any figure can be independently confirmed against the source.

#SupportsDocumentFiledAccessionLocation in document
1Section 01, John HansonDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 26. As printed: 2,059,747. Filing ↗machine: r7 · c25 · span 445578–445587
2Section 01, Nicholas LahanasDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 26. As printed: 1,905,762. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c25 · span 422534–422543
3Section 01, William BrownDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 26. As printed: 1,535,298. Filing ↗machine: r13 · c25 · span 472606–472615
4Section 01, John WalkerDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 26. As printed: 858,935. Filing ↗machine: r10 · c25 · span 459477–459484
5Section 01, Bradley SmithDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 26. As printed: 736,037. Filing ↗machine: r5 · c25 · span 436501–436508
6Section 03, William Brown RSUDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗
7Section 03, William Brown RSUDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗
8Section 03, John Hanson PSUDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗
9Section 03, John Hanson RSUDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 620753–620762
10Section 03, John Hanson RSUDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗
11Section 03, Nicholas Lahanas PSUDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗
12Section 03, Nicholas Lahanas RSUDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 571725–571731
13Section 03, Bradley Smith RSUDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 584541–584546
14Section 03, Bradley Smith PSUDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗
15Section 03, John Walker RSUDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: span 631885–631890
16Section 03, John Walker PSUDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗
17Section 07, pay ratioDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “CEO Pay Ratio”. As printed: 40 : 1. Filing ↗machine: span 1101907–1101909
18Section 08, Randal D. LewisDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 260,341. Filing ↗machine: span 205422–205597
19Section 08, Mary Beth SpringerDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 241,986. Filing ↗machine: span 217805–217979
20Section 08, Brendan P. DougherDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 226,486. Filing ↗machine: span 199088–199263
21Section 08, Lisa ColemanDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 224,486. Filing ↗machine: span 195772–195947
22Section 08, John R. RanelliDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 214,486. Filing ↗machine: span 214633–214808
23Section 08, Courtnee ChunDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 206,486. Filing ↗machine: span 192894–193069
24Section 08, Brooks M. Pennington IIIDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 202,486. Filing ↗machine: span 211711–211886
25Section 08, Christopher T. MetzDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 196,986. Filing ↗machine: span 208348–208523
26Section 08, Michael J. GriffithDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 11,500. Filing ↗machine: span 200054–200272
27Section 08, Nicholas LahanasDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. Filing ↗
28Section 08, William E. BrownDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. Filing ↗
29Section 06, 2026 voteForm 8-K2026-02-180001193125-26-057026Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 98.68% (votes for as printed: 16,346,943). Filing ↗
30Section 06, 2023 voteForm 8-K2023-02-100001193125-23-032428Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 96.77% (votes for as printed: 19,179,403). Filing ↗
31Section 06, 2020 voteForm 8-K2020-02-130001193125-20-035729Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 92.76% (votes for as printed: 18,646,184). Filing ↗
32Section 01 trend, Δ column (computed)ComputedcomputedΔ = current-FY total − prior-FY total per named officer.machine: formula: Δ = FY(n) − FY(n−1)
33Section 03b vehicle mix (computed)ComputedcomputedRSU / PSU / Options grant-date fair values summed per officer from the grants table; % performance-vested = PSU ÷ (RSU+PSU+Options).machine: formula: sums + PSU ratio
34Section 09b board cost (computed)ComputedcomputedCash 784,000 + equity 959,888 + all other 41,355 = 1,785,243, summed across the director compensation table rows.machine: formula: Σ = 1,785,243
35The Clorox Company, Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2025-10-070001552781-25-000311CEO total compensation as printed in The Clorox Company's own proxy. As printed: 13,333,032. Filing ↗machine: r1 · c9 · span 683061–683071
36Newell Brands Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-260001193125-26-126289CEO total compensation as printed in Newell Brands Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 12,497,912. Filing ↗machine: r3 · c25 · span 676990–677000
37Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2025-12-170000825542-25-000029CEO total compensation as printed in Scotts Miracle-Gro Co.'s own proxy. As printed: 12,299,261. Filing ↗machine: r13 · c54 · span 627371–627381
38Energizer Holdings Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2025-12-120001632790-25-000120CEO total compensation as printed in Energizer Holdings Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 10,972,516. Filing ↗machine: span 836550–836560
39J.M. Smucker Co., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-06-260001193125-26-283858CEO total compensation as printed in J.M. Smucker Co.'s own proxy. As printed: 10,935,216. Filing ↗machine: t332 · r5 · c44 · span 1104985–1104995
40Church & Dwight Co., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-190001193125-26-115994CEO total compensation as printed in Church & Dwight Co.'s own proxy. As printed: 9,799,678. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c38 · span 2534673–2534682
41Edgewell Personal Care Co., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2025-12-220001104659-25-123567CEO total compensation as printed in Edgewell Personal Care Co.'s own proxy. As printed: 9,754,366. Filing ↗machine: t89 · r1 · c51 · span 1153139–1153148
42Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-06-260000109177-26-000030CEO total compensation as printed in Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 8,757,036. Filing ↗machine: r3 · c45 · span 689937–689946
43Helen of Troy Ltd., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-06-240000916789-26-000088CEO total compensation as printed in Helen of Troy Ltd.'s own proxy. As printed: 4,070,466. Filing ↗machine: span 888837–888846
44CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO (subject), Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2025-12-220001140361-25-046376CEO total compensation as printed in CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO's own proxy. As printed: 1,905,762. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c25 · span 422534–422543
45Section 10a, Energizer Holdings Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001632790-25-000120Energizer Holdings Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO. Filing ↗
46Section 10a, Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0000109177-26-000030Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO. Filing ↗
47Section 10a, Helen of Troy Ltd. reciprocityDEF 14A0000916789-26-000088Helen of Troy Ltd.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO. Filing ↗
48Section 10a, J.M. Smucker Co. reciprocityDEF 14A0001193125-26-283858J.M. Smucker Co.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO. Filing ↗
49Section 10a, Newell Brands Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001193125-26-126289Newell Brands Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO. Filing ↗
50Section 10a, Edgewell Personal Care Co. reciprocityDEF 14A0001104659-25-123567Edgewell Personal Care Co.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO. Filing ↗