About Us

Transporting perishable products worldwide, while exceeding expectations through our people, network and technology.

Present Day

As part of the Kuehne+Nagel family of companies, Commodity Forwarders operates independently, but as a member company in their FreshChain brand, focused on non-pharmaceutical perishable products imported, exported, and distributed within the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In addition to our air freight services offered at all our locations, CFI does scheduled and ad-hoc domestic trucking between gateways such as Los Angeles, San Francisco as well as Miami, Boston and JFK, connecting CFI stations and offering temperature-controlled pickup and delivery services to points throughout the United States. From our locations in Hawaii, Alaska, and Florida CFI locations can offer barge services to beyond points. CFI’s experienced leadership and operations teams, coupled with a technology stack focused on visibility and temperature continuity, robust compliance, and adherence to local, state as well as federal standards for product safety and cleanliness mean that product is handled with extreme care from receipt to delivery.

packing
present 2022
2023

2023

Present day – Our agent relationships in the mid-Atlantic, Gulf and southeastern United States in cities such as Washington, DC, Atlanta, Dallas and Houston allow Commodity Forwarders to handle customized temperature sensitive cargo programs nationwide.
2021

2021

Kuehne + Nagel acquires Salmosped AS, Norway. Kuehne + Nagel acquires Apex Logistics International in Feb of 2021. Kuehne + Nagel acquires Quick International Courier in Nov of 2021.
2019

2019

Kuehne + Nagel acquires Worldwide Perishables, Halifax, NS Canada.
2018

2018

Kuehne + Nagel acquires Panatlantic Logistics S.A., Ecuador.
2017

2017

Commodity Forwarders becomes part of the K+N family of companies. Kuehne + Nagel acquires Trillvane Ltd, Kenya.
2015

2015

The Boston office opened with a focus on seafood across the eastern seaboard.
2012

2012

The Chicago office opened with a focus on proteins and frozen commodities. Kuehne + Nagel acquires Perishables International Transport, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
2011

2011

Kuehne + Nagel acquires Translago Ltda., Colombia
2007

2007

The New York office opened to tap into a new business segment consisting of trade shows, exhibitions and work for US consulates and embassies overseas.
2003

2003

Facilities in Anchorage, AK, and Seattle, WA, opened to better serve perishable markets to and from the Pacific Northwest.
1998

1998

Miami opened, allowing improved access to Florida’s consumer markets. Miami also allowed for gateway service to and from Latin America to the rest of the USA. CFI Miami assists exporters of Florida products and provides transshipment services to Asia and Europe from Latin America.
1988

1988

The San Francisco, CA, office was opened to service the farms in Salinas/Watsonville and North Central Valleys along with distribution to San Francisco and Central California retail distribution centers.
1981

1981

The Hilo, HI, office opened to handle flowers and perishable products from the Big Island. Offices in Honolulu, Maui, Lihue and Kona later opened to handle everything from papayas, pineapples and flowers to nuts, seeds and fish as we began providing refrigerated distribution throughout the islands, a service that CFI is well-known for in the Hawaiian market today.
1974

1974

Commodity Forwarders, Inc. incorporated by Alfred Kuehlewind as a one-man office in Los Angeles, specializing in perishable products; primarily strawberries to Europe by air.

FreshChain

As an integral part of the Kuehne+Nagel Group, Commodity Forwarders Inc. (CFI) is proud to offer its specialized division, FreshChain, dedicated to providing comprehensive supply chain solutions for temperature-sensitive cargo. Our team, rich in its understanding of the intricate challenges inherent in perishable logistics, is committed to preserving the freshness and quality of your goods from start to finish. We utilize our extensive network and state-of-the-art technology to provide tailored services, spanning air, sea, and land transportation, bolstered by our specialized warehousing and advanced monitoring systems. At CFI's FreshChain, we prioritize developing strong partnerships with our clients, gaining deep insights into their unique needs, and exceeding their expectations with our reliable, efficient, and sustainable solutions. Trust in us to handle your perishable cargo with the utmost care and commitment.

Driving The Change

We aim to retain our vanguard position on sustainability in the Air Logistics industry. We will continue our strong focus on creating innovative, industry-leading and accessible sustainable solutions and projects in the areas of visibility, avoidance and reduction, and co-operations.

Values

Commodity Forwarders, Inc. has established a standard method of operation that allows the company to operate efficiently while growing our customers brands. This method of operation will be repeated in additional markets, allowing CFI to remain a premier perishable goods logistics company with world-wide accessibility.

Environmental Policy

At Commodity Forwarders Inc., we intertwine our passion for outstanding logistics services with a profound respect for our planet. We're committed not only to safeguarding your precious products and fulfilling your delivery expectations, but also to doing so with a keen eye on environmental stewardship. By adhering to relevant industry regulations and specifications, we ensure our competitively-priced services are not just top-notch, but also environmentally conscious. We believe in striking a harmonious balance between operational excellence and our ecological footprint, all the while nurturing the trust you've placed in us. In essence, we're not just delivering goods, we're delivering a promise of sustainability.

People Strategy

Our people are our most important asset. Emphasis is on the development, implementation and follow through of a Staff Development Program. The strategy for hiring new personnel will be driven by the success of the merger and acquisition strategy as well as by increases in revenue from markets and identified customers.

Certifications