Central Garden & Pet Reviews

Former Employee – worked at Central Garden & Pet full-time for less than a year

Pros – Smart caring co workers who are always willing to collaborate

Cons – Processes need to be developed and communicated

Advice to Senior Management – Keep listening to employees

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Central Garden & Pet full-time for more than a year

Pros – Central Garden & Pet did offer me the title I required to move up in the CPG world but that was about the extent to the pros of this company.

Cons – The lack of a consistent corporate strategy and vision of growth, innovation, and decision making skills make Central a disorganized, chaotic, and frustrating place to work. If you are an outgoing person who strives to grow in your position, grow your category, and enjoy the feeling of success, then Central is NOT the work environment for you.

Advice to Senior Management – Develop a consistent corporate strategy and common vision of growth for both the Pet and Garden sides of the business that all business units and employees can be excited about. The dissatisfaction of senior management has negatively impacted morale, and has resulted in good people leaving or trying to leave the company.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Former Employee – worked at Central Garden & Pet full-time for more than a year

Pros – I had the opportunity to work for the best supervisor I have ever worked with.

Cons – Long days, hard work, lots of chemicals and no benefits.

Advice to Senior Management – A performance bonus would have been nice after a year of service, or at least an incentive of more than $10 if I work even harder.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Central Garden & Pet full-time for less than a year

Pros – can't think of any except I made some great friends in my peer group

Cons – I believe they moved the service center to Boise because of low wages, and they are taking advantage of it. Poor review process for employees, 16 months for most new employees to have a review and raise. Interview information did not align with actuality. Management does not want to hear the employees' ideas on setting SOPs for new center.

Advice to Senior Management – Talk to the lower level employees and find out what is REALLY going on. About half of the employees are looking for new jobs.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Central Garden & Pet full-time

Pros – Potential
Some great brands
A few shining stars trying hard
Moving in the right direction

Cons – Company steps on potential like ants
Some of the worst marketing teams ever seen on some of the great brands
Company shrouds the stars
Taking the wrong step all along the way
Horrendous customer service - hard to make money when you can't deliver product
Dysfunctional is an understatement
No marketing investment in products
Minimal focus on the consumer
Absolutely no customer focus, surprised retailers stay partnered as long as they have
Culture stinks
Years behing competitive company set

Advice to Senior Management – Congratulations on the new CEO, very refreshing! Hopefully he brings a sturdy broom!!!

Look at the stock price and ask yourself, how did we get here?

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Central Garden & Pet full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – The company provides free training for its employees from MS Office to SAP systems. Being able to work independently. The company offers flexibility for employee with family. Great place for skilled employee. Overall, not so great but not so bad either. I believe Central Garden and Pet is moving to be a better company.

Cons – The company is in the transition and keep re-structuring its organization. Created a financial center in Atlanta, GA in 2009 and decided to move and create a new shared service center in Boise, Idaho. Some people lost their jobs after 10 to 15 years worked for the company.

Advice to Senior Management – Some management, including the CFO are great, but some need to learn how to treat people not based on their pay grade.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Former Employee – worked at Central Garden & Pet full-time for more than a year

Pros – The best part of working for CG&P is the flexibility with scheduling and work hours. Local management was dedicated to providing employee satisfaction.

Cons – The company is struggling to gain commitment from its big box customers making it difficult at times to meet goals.

Advice to Senior Management – Build better partnerships with your big box customers. The competition in the garden categories is fierce and at the store level CG&P has little or no commitment from management at regional and store level.

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Central Garden & Pet full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – Great Job if you love people, sales, and outdoor products. Made some great professional connections and still speak with those people today! Loved every minute of my job!

Cons – Promised full time status within one month, then was cut down to seasonal without being told by my TM. Was told by my TM I could not have a second job during the off season and at his beck and call. Was also told not to have a child, that would effect my performance in the company!

Advice to Senior Management – To much disconnect between your field reps and higher management. If you cut hours send out a company wide memo. I had to sit and listen to my TM tell me my hours were cut because my dedication to the company was not were it should be. The regional manager later told me my job performance was solid and could not figure out the disconnect between the TM and the RM. Only left the job because of my TM telling me to be at his beck and call, or he would find someone that would "march to the beat" Pretty lousy way to treat an employee who had his area in top niche shape if you ask me!

Yes, I would recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Former Employee – worked at Central Garden & Pet full-time for less than a year

Pros – Multiple locations so depending on the function, you could find a Central location that is close to you

Cons – No exposure to the higher level strategy and company direction, lack of business ownership, strong level of micro management, unclear processes, lack of 360 feedback and clear actionable steps to help improve and develop

Advice to Senior Management – More transperency with regards to growth strategy and the company direction

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company

Current Employee – been working at Central Garden & Pet

Pros – Work / Family life is great.

Cons – Central Garden and Pet is top heavy. They are getting rid of all the "little people" and keeping people who don't know what they are doing.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company