Northern Irish builders merchants JP Corry, have been awarded Chain of Custody certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) for a wide range of timber products.

Saint Gobain, parent company of builders merchants Jewson and plumbers merchants Graham has stopped buying vehicles from LDV after the Birmingham van-makers went into financial difficulties.

Builders merchant group Wolseley is to close the distribution centres in Didcot and Chorley, as part of its programme to cut costs and increase efficiencies.

From May 1 until the end of June woodcare specialists Sadolin are boosting sales of their new Ultra Highly Translucent Woodstain system with an eyecatching in-store promotion.

Irwin Industrial Tools have unveiled a 2009 campaign for the Jack 880 Universal Triple Ground handsaw.

Keen to help merchants boost sales of tinted exterior coatings, Sandtex Trade have launched 'Colour Coach'.

The latest research from accountants PriceWaterhouseCoopers found that nine construction firms a day are going out of business.

Sales at cement manufacturers Cemex fell 43% to $190m in the first quarter of 2009, according to the global cement company's report, published this morning.

Irish builders merchants chain Grafton Group plc has seen turnover fall 22% to £420m for the first three months of this year.

Alpha Heating Innovation have appointed three new technical sales managers - who between them have 31 years' industry experience.