Monday, February 4, 2013
Farrow Group Acquires W. Pickett & Bros Customs Broker Inc.
Toronto, ON – February 4th, 2013 – Farrow Group today announced it has acquired Kitchener based customs broker W.Pickett & Bros Customs Broker Inc.
Rick Farrow, Chairman and C.E.O. Farrow Group, released the following statement to employees of both organizations: "Together with my brother John, we’re pleased to announce this acquisition, our third within the last 12 months, and 16th overall. As has been the case all along, we seek to bring together organizations which share a similar culture and philosophy of service excellence. The fact that we’ve been able to accomplish seven such acquisitions since 2003, merge them into our organization and continue to grow speaks to our commitment to our valued clients. In fact, I’m proud to say most of the clients of the organizations which we’ve been able to acquire, are still with us today, and enjoy the same personalized service with Farrow as they were accustomed to previously. I expect this to be the case with Pickett clients as well."
Wendy Pickett, principal of W.Pickett & Bros. echoed Rick’s comments: "I’ve known Rick for a long time - this is a good move all round – for our clients and for our employees. We share a commitment to providing our clients with dependable, reliable service, and I look forward to working with the long tenured and experienced staff at Farrow to ensure our clients are as satisfied with Farrow, as I’m proud to say they have been with Pickett."
Pickett has operated as an international customs broker in Kitchener, Ontario since 1986, providing superior customer service to importers in the region by addressing the unique requirements of each client. The operations and staff of Pickett will be rolled into the infrastructure of Russell A. Farrow Limited. President Wendy Pickett, and her staff of eight will continue with the organization, ensuring a smooth transition.
Farrow Group is the largest privately owned customs broker in Canada, has grown to over 600 employees in twenty-nine offices and warehouses throughout Canada and the United States. Founded in 1911, the company has a more than 100-year history of providing a comprehensive range of integrated solutions to exceed the expectations of North American importers and exporters. It is owned and managed by the third generation of the Farrow family, Rick and his brother John Farrow.
About Farrow Group:
- A national customs broker with locations on the northern border in the U.S., and throughout Canada
- The largest independently owned and operated in Canada
- Farrow Group celebrated its 100th Anniversary (1911 - 2011)
- U.S. offices include: Chicago, IL, Buffalo, NY, Romulus(Detroit), MI, Battle Creek, MI, Lewiston, NY, and Port Huron, MI, Minneapolis, MN, Los Angeles, CA, Seattle, WA
- Canadian offices include: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, Ayr (Cambridge), Sarnia
- Named one of Canada’s 50 Best Managed in 2009, and a Re-Qualified member in 2010, 2011 and a Gold Standard Member in 2012
- Over six hundred employees in twenty-nine office & warehouse locations throughout the U.S. and Canada
- Family owned and operated, for three generations.
- Two time winner of the “Toyota Kaizen Excellence Award” for achievements as a key logistics partner
- ISO 9002 certified at the Ayr, Ontario, Regional Office
- Community involvement includes a commitment to Habitat-for-Humanity, the United-Way/Centraide, Windsor-Essex Therapeutic Riding Association, the Alzheimers Society, the St. Clair College Foundation, and local support of amateur sport, and local foodbanks, in communities where Farrow has offices.
Visit www.farrow.com
About W.Pickett & Bros. Customs Broker Inc:
- Principal office in Kitchener, ON
- Additional office in Toronto, ON
- Established in 1986, with eight (8) employees
- International customs clearance services
- Excellent client relationships, many of whose commitment to Pickett goes back to 1986
