Celebrating 100 Years of Innovation in
Customs Brokerage
Beginning in the spring of 2011, Russell A. Farrow Limited will celebrate its 100th Anniversary of offering innovative customs brokerage and import/export facilitation services.
We have experienced many changes over the last century. Since Russell Alexander Farrow opened his first office and began clearing ferry freight between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, we have continued to grow with the times. We have endured through two world wars and adapted to changes from the postwar boom, the development of bridges and tunnels, and Autopact between Canada and the U.S. in the 60’s, to Free Trade and NAFTA. Throughout all of this, the one constant has been a family-owned and operated customs broker called Farrow.
Customs Brokerage for Today and into the Future
Today, the same values that were instilled by our founder, Russell Alexander, in his day have remained the solid foundation of the larger and ever-evolving corporate entity. Those core values include improving service through new technologies, and coupling that progressive work with exemplary personalized service.
Russell Alexander Farrow was one of the first customs brokers to expand into transporting goods for his customers. Later, Huntley Farrow, Russell’s younger son, moved to position Farrow among the first brokers in the industry to invest in IBM mainframe computers in the 1960s. Today, Farrow embraces the adoption and application of leading-edge technologies, including operating in a digital environment and improving document imaging options.
As Farrow moves forward into the future of customs brokerage, it continues to be a family business. The third generation of the Farrow family are involved as owner-managers (Richard Farrow, Chairman and C.E.O. and his brother John, Vice-Chairman), with the fourth generation of family management involved as well.
It’s a rare feat for an organization to celebrate a centennial, even more so to have the same owner involvement with which it began.
All of which means we offer 100 years of experience in dealing with logistics and border issues effectively and efficiently for our clients.
Media Coverage
- View our 100th Anniversary Video
- Full page ad, published in The Windsor Star - Saturday, June 4th, 2011 to commemorate 100 years.
- Rick Farrow featured on Face to Face with John Fairley
Celebrating with Us
Several events have helped to mark Farrow's 100th Anniversary:
- April 4th, 2011 - kicked off our celebrations. Employee's shared Sobey's cake and ice cream, and were treated to a $10.00 gift card from McDonalds (both courtesy of Farrow). Nestle donated a Delisio Frozen Pizza for each employee.
- Donations to foodbanks. Campbell Company of Canada generously provided three skids of V8 Fusion, which have been donated to foodbanks in three locations, where Farrow has offices: Windsor, ON, Toronto, ON, and Edmonton, AB. Kellogg’s (Canada) also contributed to Farrow’s 100th Anniversary celebrations by donating fifteen skids of cereal for food-banks in Windsor and Wallaceburg, ON.
As we celebrate our 100th anniversary, we are grateful for the recognition we have received:
- Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada
- Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario
- Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development and Trade / MPP Windsor West (Ontario)
- Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance / MPP Windsor-Tecumseh (Ontario)
- Jeff Watson, Member of Parliament, Essex
- Eddie Francis, Mayor of Windsor, Ontario
- Advertisement from Deloitte
- Letter of Congratulations from Kewill
- Commemorative Plaque - presented by Guarantee Company of North America (July 7th, 2011)
- Commemorative Clock - presented by Chase Bank (July 7th, 2011)
- Commemorative Artwork - presented by CSCB (July 7th, 2011)
