The Dutch company Banken Champignons Group has made it through to the Deloitte-organised Best Managed Companies Program final 75 businesses.

The mushroom specialist made it into the 75 best-performing Dutch companies, along with Nyenrode Business University, the Dutch Chamber of Commerce and a few other organisations.

The annual competition consists of several stages. After registration, companies are operationally, tactically and strategically screened by Deloitte. Not only are financial results assessed, but also strategy, human resources, risk management and internal organisation, together with marketing and sales, are closely scrutinised.

In the next stage, the entrepreneur presents themselves to an independent jury, consisting of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce, VNO-NCW and Deloitte.

Banken Champignons Group faced these crucial tests last month and outperformed its financial and market targets.

The conclusion of the competition will follow in April, when Deloitte will announce whether Banken Champignons Group can scoop the title of Best Managed Company of 2009.

Bernard Wientjes (chairman VNO-NCW), Frans van Steenis (chairman Dutch Chamber of Commerce), Willem Burggraaf (Professor Entrepreneurship and DGA companies Nyenrode), Ewald Smits (Main Editor management team) and Jan Dalhuisen (Deloitte) represent the main jury and will face the difficult challenge of selecting the last 50.