Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell said state investments will help Kehe Food Distributors, a specialist in natural and specialty foods, open a new $6.2 million distribution center in Allentown, Pa., creating at least 200 jobs within three years.

Supply chain management company OHL, Brentwood, Tenn., will operate the 300,000-square-foot warehouse, which is designed to serve food retailers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Officials said Kehe distributes more than 40,000 products, including natural and organic, international, specialty, perishable, Kosher and Latin American food items to more than 15,000 retail outlets in 50 states, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Temperature-controlled rail shipping provider Railex, Riverhead, N.Y., said it hired Thomas Finkbiner as executive vice president of sales and marketing. He previously was president of  Pacer Stacktrain and also has held executive posts at Quality Distribution, Norfolk Southern Corporation and North American Van Lines.

Railex provides five-day shipping service for fresh produce, frozen foods, ingredients and other sensitive products from transload centers in Rotterdam, N.Y., as well as Delano, Calif., and Wallula, Wash.