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Our History

Thomas, Large & Singer

TLS: 100+ Years of History, 100+ Years of Experience

TLS: 100+ Years of History, 100+ Years of Experience

Founded in 1912 by Earl S. Thomas, grandfather of Peter Singer, our current Chairman, Thomas, Large & Singer has developed over the past century to become one of the leading logistics companies in Canada. Over this time, we have developed expertise in all facets of the industry, including national logistics and warehousing, order-to-cash, trade promotional control solutions and broker management, sales agency of private label and industrial ingredient solutions and more. 

For years, we have been offering innovative supply chain solutions, helping brands across the globe deliver products to Canada and the U.S., and we continue shaping the e-commerce industry to this very day with our unique combination of experience and ingenuity. So, if you’re looking to promote and sell your products within Canada and the U.S., then look to Thomas, Large & Singer to connect you from coast to coast on both sides of the border. 

1912

Earl S. Thomas starts a Food Brokerage firm to represent independent Fruit and Vegetable canners with offices at the foot of Yonge Street in Toronto

1921

The company adds imported spices to its product line.

1930

Green coffee is first imported by the company and by 1940 Cocoa is added to utilize the company’s growing marketing expertise

1949

Bob Singer joins the firm and broadens the scope of the business to include finished packaged products for the retail trade

1955

Jack Large becomes a partner and together with Evan Cover, who joined in 1952, takes the company into the Industrial market by supplying ingredients to manufacturers

1957

The growing firm employed Ted Loewi who helped launch McCain Foods in Ontario. This includes the sale of the first Canadian made frozen French fry into the Foodservice Market and the inception of frozen foods for many foodservice distributors

1958

Rich Products are introduced by TLS into the Canadian market

1967

TLS acquires Reinhart Vinegars Limited. This vinegar manufacturing company adds other product lines including maraschino cherries, pie fillings and aluminum foil. The company eventually changes its name to Reinhart Foods.

1972

A new division is formed to market Rich’s Bake-Off frozen dough product for Retail in-store bakeries. TLS establishes subsidiary Emblem Logistics to service its client’s logistics and warehousing needs.

1973

TLS builds its own 100,000 sq. ft. warehouse to provide full-service to its Principals

1974

TLS appoints Ted Loewi as President and Bob Singer as Chairman of the Board.

1977

Peter Singer Joins TLS representing the third generation of the Singer family to eventually lead the company.

1979

Reinhart Foods opens a new vinegar plant in Quebec and TLS opens a branch office in the same facility.

1980

TLS launches Sea Legs, the first Surimi product to be marketed in Canada.

1984

TLS Creates a new division to handle Private Label sales for Retail Grocery products.

1992

Launched Tropicana Juices in Ontario – Became the #1 juice brand in Canada.

1996

MKQ merged into Thomas, Large & Singer Inc., which brought in 3 new partners and many new lines including Tetley Tea and Smucker’s.

1999

  • TLS launched its enterprise wide software system, Magic for Work Groups
  • TLS moves into their new, wholly owned facility at 250 Rowntree Dairy Road, Woodbridge, ON
  • 1Acquired Murray Spencer Sales and Terra Nova Brokers in the Maritimes and Newfoundland respectively

2000

  •  Acquired Tier One Brokerage of Vancouver with offices in Victoria B.C., Calgary and Edmonton Alta. and Winnipeg Manitoba
  • TLS became the first national Food Broker with the largest staff and 8 offices, the most in the industry

2002

  • TLS responds to the consolidation of the national branded food brokerage business and sells that division to Acosta Sales and Marketing of Jacksonville, Florida.
  • TLS continues to be active in the Industrial and Private Label Brokerage businesses as well as the buy/sell component of the national brands whose sales representation was sold to Acosta.

2006

  • TLS leaves its shared office space with Acosta and moves its offices to rented premises in Markham reflecting the company’s desire to be able to offer its buy/sell services to all food brokers and manufacturers
  • TLS begins broker management services for Equal Sweetner products

2008

TLS expands syndicated brokers management services to 3 other clients creating a separate division within TLS

2009

TLS is awarded the buy/sell business of Post Foods Canada which necessitated leasing an additional 85,000 square feet of warehouse space in a new building in Milton, ON

2010

TLS licenses with MEI for their Troubadour Trade Price/Promotions software, as TLS’s primary platform for forecasting and managing sales and trade spending

2011

TLS launches its updated website and corporate identity

2012

TLS celebrates 100 years of growth and success

2013

  • TLS is awarded the value chain distribution nationally for Starbucks Canada Ltd.
  • Reinhart Foods becomes an independent company.
  • TLS welcomes the fourth generation of the family when David Singer joins the firm

2015

  • Emblem Logistics moves into a new 377,000 square foot facility in Brampton, Ontario
  •  TLS is awarded the value chain distribution business for Want-Want Group (largest rice cracker company in the world), R&B Foods Ragu products and Tim Horton’s retail business

2016

  • TLS is awarded the value chain distribution for Popchips, Sunny D and Labatt Non-Alcoholic brands
  • 2016: TLS begins operations in the U.S.A as TLS America, providing Value Chain Services

2017

Expansion of Emblem Logistics to facilitate growth completed. Distribution centre size now totals 587,000 square feet

2018

TLS moves into updated and larger offices in Markham

2020

Anthony Carter becomes CCO. David Singer take over as President, representing the 4th Generation of Singer to lead the company.

2021

TLS installs new Warehouse Management system as Emblem Logistics subsidiary.

Anthony Carter becomes CFO as Peter Wagner retires from a long and successful career.

Contact Us

Connect with Canada's Most Experienced Team

  • Phone Number: 1-800-268-5542
  • Head Office: 15 Allstate Parkway Ste. 400, Markham, Ontario, L3R 5B4, Canada.
  • Distribution Center (Emblem Logistics): 7825. Winston Churchill Blvd. Brampton, Ontario. L6Y 5Z4
  • Emblem Appointment Desk: 647-775-2602

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15 Allstate Parkway Ste. 400, Markham, Ontario L3R 5B4

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