There will be considerable relief that 260 jobs which were under threat at the Genesis Crafty bakery in Magherafelt, Co Derry, have been secured by the sale of the company.
The respected family business had been trading successfully in the area for almost half a century, and includes the Marks and Spencer and Waitrose chains among its customers.
However, it had been experiencing difficulties in recent months and it was confirmed yesterday that it has been purchased as a private investment by the chief executive of the Tayto group, Paul Allen.
The economy of provincial towns depends heavily on established employers like Genesis, and there will be widespread hopes that better times lie ahead for the firm.
