WASHINGTON, D.C., 05/15/2024 – It is with great sadness that Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) announces the passing of Allied Beverage Group’s Ed Feldman, longtime industry leader and champion for wholesalers.
"Ed Feldman was my partner for 28 years, but our relationship was much longer as he was my competitor prior to forming Allied Beverage Group. He was a man of great integrity and one of the hardest working individuals that I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with during my time in the industry,” said Bobby Harmelin, Allied Beverage’s Executive Vice President of Industry Relations. “We started as partners in 1996 and I soon found out what he and his brother meant when they told their new partners that the ‘Feldman boys, work hard all of their lives.’ Ed more than lived up to that quote as he was very involved in the business until the very end. All of us at Allied will miss his calm demeanor and leadership,” he added.
Feldman was born on January 28, 1927, in Bayonne NJ, the youngest of four sons of Annie Hiller Feldman and Max Feldman. In 1948, he graduated from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. After graduation, Feldman began his career in the wholesale wine and liquor business. He oversaw the establishment of Merchants’ Wine and Liquor Company in Camden, NJ and was an integral part of its growth as it moved to larger facilities in Pennsauken and then Mount Laurel. Feldman served as President of Merchants’ for many years until it merged into the F&A (Feldman & Altschuler) Distributing Co. in the late 1980’s. He was an officer of F&A and served on the F&A Board of Directors. When Allied Beverage Group was formed in 1996, Feldman was an original officer and he continued to serve on the Allied Board of Directors until the present day.
"Ed Feldman was not only a cherished leader to Allied Beverage, but a valued industry partner to so many. He leaves a lasting legacy that will be celebrated and carried forward for generations to come," shared WSWA President and CEO, Francis Creighton.
Feldman is survived by his wife of 73 years, Ruth Smith Feldman; his son Richard Feldman and son-in-law Marco Prado of Philadelphia, PA; his son Bruce Feldman and daughter-in-law Wendy Engelson of Fairfax, Virginia; his daughter Beth Feldman and son-in-law Jeffrey Desman of Moorestown, NJ; and his daughter Marcia Feldman Rost of Voorhees, NJ; his grandchildren Jessica (Sid Fine) Feldman, Matthew Feldman, Andrew Feldman, Jaime Desman, Jacob Desman, Mitchell Desman, Hayley Rost, and Rachel Rost; Brother-in-law David Smith and his wife Bobbi; and many nieces and nephews.
Donations in his memory can be made to the Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern New Jersey Food Pantry.
###