Companies share history, and a common culture of family ownership, and responsiveness to clients
Farrow is thrilled to announce the acquisition of Charles Higgerty Limited, an Ottawa area broker with a lot of history.
The story behind the most recent acquisition by Farrow is an interesting one, and a reminder that family and family-run businesses are worth celebrating.
The Farrow and Higgerty relationship began over 100 years ago. Robinson Farrow, great grandfather of Richard Farrow, current Chairman of Farrow, was the Commissioner of Customs for Canada, and best friends with Charles Higgerty, who founded Charles Higgerty Limited. Not only were they best friends, Charles and Robinson ended up marrying sisters! Robinson Farrow married Rebecca Bradley, and Charles Higgerty married her sister, Nina Mary Bradley.
Robinson Farrow, while Commissioneer of Customs for Canada transitioned the government’s business accounts to his friend and brother in-law, Charles at Charles Higgerty Limited, where these accounts have remained ever since.
Like Farrow Chairman Richard Farrow, Charles’ granddaughter, Harriett Higgerty, grew up in the family business. Richard and Harriet became friends as well. Eventually, Harriet took over from her father to become Higgerty’s President and lead the family business into its third generation.
When Harriett passed away in January of 2020, she directed the Higgerty estate to ask Rick Farrow if he would consider purchasing the Higgerty family’s brokerage business and carry it forward, as part of Farrow. Rick agreed and thus, Farrow acquired Charles Higgerty Limited, in October 2020.
In a statement released upon the acquisition, Grant Robinson, Farrow C.E.O. said:
“Who could have predicted over a hundred years ago, when two best friends Robinson Farrow and Charles Higgerty, married sisters, their families would still be working together, carrying on their family’s name and making the founders proud”
He went on to say:
“Similar to Charles Higgerty Limited, Farrow has remained true to the principals of its founders, and has expanded beyond customs brokerage into many areas of the supply chain services including International Freight Forwarding, Consulting, Warehousing & Distribution, and Ground Transportation. We welcome to the Farrow family of companies, Charles Higgerty and their clients, with whom we share a similar culture and values.”
For further information, contact:
Marvin Rosenzweig
V.P. Sales, Marketing & Client Service
(m) 1.647.539.7825
About Farrow
Today, Farrow is a customs broker and logistics provider with over 110 years of expertise in international trade, and a Canada Best Managed winner.
Owned and operated by the third generation of the Farrow family, the fourth generation is now involved on a day-to-day basis as well. With over 700 employees and 29 offices and warehouse locations, Farrow is one of the largest private and family owned customs brokers in North America.
Farrow has been a Canada Best Managed winner for eleven consecutive years, and achieved Platinum Club status five years consecutively; an accomplishment few companies attain.
In addition to providing customs brokerage services, Farrow also operates four divisions under the Farrow brand. These include Farrow Logistics (North American Logistics), Farrow Global Logistics (International Freight Forwarding and Global Supply Chain), Farrow Express (Expedited Deliveries), and Farrow Consulting (Import/Export and Trade Management Consulting).
To learn more visit farrow.com.
