Perhaps this week’s revelation that Scottish potato supplier Taypack has backed out of what appeared, on the surface, to be a highly lucrative £32 million a year deal with Asda is something we will all have to get used to now the credit crunch is well and truly upon us.

Taypack’s decision has sent shockwaves through the potato industry, but is it any surprise that the company has chosen to safeguard its business - and more importantly, the livelihoods of its staff - rather than persevere with a trading relationship that was squeezing profit margins to an untenable level? It seemed somewhat inevitable that, one of these days, a supplier was going to hold his hands up, say enough is enough, and pull the plug from a supply partnership with one of the multiples.

On p4, Duncan Swift of Grant Thornton UK warns that businesses may have to seriously consider pulling out of relationships that are proving unprofitable or difficult, if they wish to weather the credit crunch and live to see another economic boom. Perhaps they will form an orderly queue behind Taypack.

There can be no doubt that this was not an easy decision, and many in the industry will hail it as a brave one; but the pure economics of an unbalanced business relationship can lead to a straightforward toss up between bravery and commercial suicide.