Simon Bergson is the Founder, President and CEO of Manhattan Beer Distributors. He started Manhattan Beer Distrfibutors in 1978 with not much more than a dream, a desire to work hard and a handful of employees. Manhattan Beer Distributors’ first warehouse was a 4,000 square foot garage located on East 5th Street in Manhattan, hence the name.
Today, Manhattan Beer Distributors has grown to employ over 1,800 people and is one of the largest beer distributors in the country, delivering over 45 million cases of beer annually. Operating out of five warehouses: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Wyandanch, and Suffern, Manhattan Beer Distributors’ warehouse capacity has grown from 4,000 square feet to over 1,500,000 square feet. Manhattan Beer Distributors represents over 75 beer suppliers and over 250 brands.
Simon was born in a U.S. Government Displaced Persons Camp in Austria and was 6 months old when the Bergson family came to the United States. Both of his parents survived the Holocaust and Hitler’s Auschwitz death camp. Simon learned at a very young age the meaning of survival, perseverance, and drive. He earned an Associate of Arts Degree majoring in language (Spanish) from Queensborough College.
In addition to being the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Manhattan Beer Distributors, Simon serves as: Board Member of SOBRO (South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, Past Chair); Past Board Member and Past Chair of the New York State Beer Wholesalers Association; Past Board Member of the National Beer Wholesalers Association; Trustee of the Museum of Jewish Heritage- A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, in Battery Park, NY; Chairman of the Board of Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation in Oswiecim, Poland.
Simon was awarded with the “Knights Cross of the Order of the Merit of the Republic of Poland” for his dedication and work toward Polish-Jewish relations. In addition, he was knighted by the “Belgium Brewers Guild” for his dedication to Belgium Brewing.
Simon resides in NY with his wife Stefany and has three grown children, Brianne, Alex and Mitchel.