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Aden Brook was founded in 1998 by Nick Fitzpatrick in his hometown of Liberty, NY. The name comes from a brook, the Aden Brook, with headwaters starting on the same farm where the business was originally based. With no experience in the hay industry, but a keen interest in hay, farming and trucks, Nick set out to build a name and a business. Below are notable developments from our timeline.

Nick rented the 130-acre Clark farm in Liberty, NY, with the help of brothers Joe, John and Mr. Clark, and made over 7,500 bales in the first year. 

After selling the first season’s hay crop, and with advice from several mentors, Nick started buying hay from other farmers and selling it to his original customers. This expanded the ability to offer other types of hay that were not previously produced, and serve new customers and markets. A marketing slogan was created, “Quality, Dependability & Peace of Mind”.

Demand for hay increased, and from farther distances, leading to the purchase of our first new truck, a Ford F350, and 32’ trailer. With the better equipment, loads of up to 400 bales and 10 tons could be hauled. Our customer base expanded into New Jersey.

With new customers and demand, a 2nd truck was purchased, a Ford F550, along with another 32’ trailer. Dave Stewart became the first employee, driving one of the trucks, while Nick drove the other.

With the need for a yard close to a highway, the business office and yard were relocated to Ferndale, NY, which is close to an interstate. 3 acres of land was purchased and several more trucks were added to the fleet, including the first semi, a 1994 Freightliner FLD120 with a 48’ step deck trailer.

A fire on a Sunday night destroyed the main warehouse where inventory was stored. The fire spared the trucks, but many pieces of equipment, the office, our records and much of our inventory were lost. That Monday morning all deliveries still went out on time.

After the fire, and with help from neighbors, the business was relocated to another building a mile away and ready to expand, again.

The company had developed a customer base located in the Hudson Valley and beyond. Looking for better efficiency, our operation relocated to Orange County and based out of a property in Bullville, NY.

The company changed focus from just hay to include retail sales and trucking. The Pine Bush Agway was purchased, a retail location, and parts of the hay business merged into that operation.

Operating a complicated business that was not focused on any one customer group, and with slim margins, the business became unprofitable and quickly became insolvent. Through open discussion with creditors about the mistakes that were made, parts of the business were wound down and the assets sold, helping the creditors to maximize value. The process was difficult and many lessons were learned.

Agri Sales USA, Inc. was formed and the business refocused entirely on our original goals – buying and selling quality hay and delivering to customers. We built upon our reputation for always standing behind our products and doing what we say we will do.

With several years of experience, Aden Brook began to grow profitably and take on larger customers, as well as gain the trust of larger suppliers. Having developed a customer base with the show horse industry, a seasonal operation was started in Wellington, FL to service show horse customers while they wintered in South Florida.

Strong business demands and a need for a large farm based in the right location led Nick and Nelly Mazur to come to an agreement on the purchase of the 207 acre Mazur Farm located alongside Interstate 84 in Montgomery, NY. The new farm was quickly cleaned up and improved to accommodate the business, as well as grow good crops. The new location quickly proved a very successful move for the business.

Aden Logistics, an asset/non-asset based truckload brokerage, was formed and spun out from Aden Brook to better serve the growing logistics needs of the business. Significant investment was made into technology with the intention of growing a world-class transportation business to move loads for Aden Brook and other freight customers.

Recognizing the evolving dynamics of the market, Aden Brook initiated a transformation in 2020 by redefining itself as a non-asset brokerage. This strategic pivot led to the establishment of Aden Logistics, a non-asset freight brokerage, to complement its existing capabilities. This expansion into logistics further enhanced Aden Brook’s ability to provide comprehensive solutions and cater to the evolving needs of its clients.

In January 2021, Aden Brook Trading Corp. was spun off as a separate entity, dedicated solely to the commodity brokerage segment, under the leadership of Cosmos Fitzpatrick. This move allowed for a sharper focus on the specific needs of the commodity trading market and paved the way for accelerated growth and increased operational efficiency.

With a strong emphasis on its people, advanced technology, and financial resources, Aden Brook experienced a remarkable 45% increase in gross revenue in 2022, marking it as the company’s most profitable year to date. This outstanding achievement is a testament to the collective efforts and commitment of the Aden Brook team, which remains steadfast in its pursuit of excellence.