FARROW HISTORY
A Proud Legacy of Customs Brokerage
Economic Prosperity + Industrial Expansion
Born in Ottawa, Russell Alexander Farrow moved to Windsor, Ontario in 1910, where he worked briefly as a Dominion Customs Appraiser, investigating duty drawback claims for the Department of National Revenue. The following year, he left the Department and started his own local customs brokerage firm to service the bustling commercial ferry traffic between Detroit and Windsor – Russell A. Farrow Limited.
The company temporarily ceased operations during WWI when a young Russell Farrow enlisted in the Canadian army and served with distinction on the Western Front.
Returning home in 1918, he soon revived his customs brokerage business and went on to enjoy considerable success during the period of economic prosperity and industrial expansion that followed the War.
Innovation in Integrated Logistics
Always seeking new opportunities, Russell Farrow was one of the first brokers in Canada to have his own delivery vehicles to provide customers with an integrated logistics service, offering both customs brokerage and transportation.
During the 1930’s, Russell Farrow also became actively involved in politics, both as a local organizer for the Federal Liberal Party and as the mayor of Walkerville, Ontario in 1934.
In 1949, after a lifetime of extraordinary experiences for that time, Russell Farrow passed away, at age 58.
A Leading Developer
After his passing, Russell Farrow’s wife, Alice, assumed control as President of the Russell A. Farrow company. She was followed by her two sons, Robinson R. Farrow and Huntley J. Farrow, both of whom steadily expanded the company’s local operations and facilities over the years. Recognizing the potential of computers, Huntley began, in the early 1960’s, to establish the company as a leading developer of programs, specifically tailored to international trade.
Like Russell, Huntley was actively involved in local politics – first as a councilor for the municipality of Riverside, Ontario and later for the city of Windsor, Ontario.
Dynamic Growth + Innovation in Customs Brokerage + Logistics
With the acquisition of several smaller firms and the opening of branch offices across Ontario in the 1970’s, Farrow experienced a period of dynamic growth that has continued unabated, allowing the organization to provide new and industry-leading services to its clients. In 1995, the company amalgamated with four other well-established customs brokers — Canadian Trade Resources Ltd. of Windsor, Henry Weiner Inc. and J.MacD.Thomson Ltd. both of Toronto, and Mid West Higinbotham Ltd. of Edmonton — to form an integrated national customs brokerage and logistics organization under the Farrow name.
CORTEZ Customhouse Brokerage Company + CORTEZ Global Logistics Acquired
In 2008, the Farrow network was expanded further with the acquisition of CORTEZ Customhouse Brokerage Company and CORTEZ Global Logistics. Through acquisitions and strategic partnerships, we’ve significantly broadened our international freight forwarding and logistics capabilities as well as our services to and from Mexico, making us a truly international, single-vendor solution provider for virtually any customs brokerage and logistics needs.
Farrow Turns 100
Farrow marked its 100th anniversary in 2011 with a series of celebrations that reflected its deep appreciation for employees, clients, and the communities it serves. The milestone was commemorated through a range of events, from informal gatherings featuring cake, ice cream, and giveaways, to elegant gala evenings held in Windsor/Detroit, Toronto, and Edmonton.
In addition to these signature events, Farrow hosted numerous client-focused initiatives as a meaningful expression of gratitude for the trust and partnership of its longstanding clients. Together, these activities underscored Farrow’s commitment to fostering strong relationships and celebrating a century of shared success.
New Industry-Leading TradeSmart Connect Trade Management Tool Launched
TradeSmart Connect was designed by users, and for users, by recognizing a clients need for both visibility and empowerment in the area of trade activity management.
TradeSmart Connect is Farrow’s secure information portal which provides unparalleled visibility to your U.S. and/or Canada import data with real-time shipment tracking capabilities across a comprehensive range of transportation modes (Air, Sea, Rail, and Road), the ability to run reports on-demand, and enables storage and access to electronic copies of all your shipment related documents.
Link+ Corporation Acquired
Farrow’s most recent acquisition closed on May 12, 2023, with the purchase of Link+ Corporation (headquartered in London, Ontario) increasing market coverage across the province of Ontario, and added additional trade experts with specializations across various industries. Link+ built a valuable reputation as a customs broker of great integrity, skill, and customer centricity.
Kuehne+Nagel Closes Deal to Acquire Farrow
Following customary regulatory review, on January 31, 2024, Kuehne+Nagel Group closed on the deal to acquire the Farrow organization. With this acquisition, Farrow became a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuehne+Nagel.
The Farrow name and team remained in place, and the organization continues to operate as a stand-alone business under its executive leadership team and the guidance of Rick Farrow, Chairman at Farrow, who shared at the time of this announcement “I am comforted knowing that Farrow will be in the hands of an industry leader who will continue the great work that my family started over 110 years ago. As we forge ahead in this new chapter, I am excited for the business growth potential that these two companies will together drive.”
Farrow Celebrates 115 Years of Excellence
Today’s global customs landscape, shaped by elevated tariffs, intricate stacking requirements, and evolving Section 232 derivative calculations in the United States, demands a customer brokerage partner with scale, precision, and technical depth.
As we look to the future, Farrow’s commitment to delivering industry-leading service, innovative solutions, and trusted leadership remains unwavering.
