The company and those similar to it are sometimes called hidden champions.

For this reason, hidden champions feel a strong need to work abroad early in their company's development.

When these hidden champions do need a loan, the chances are the local bank knows them well.

The framework was also able to identify the main differences and traits common to hidden champions.

When these companies are very successful on the international markets, they are hidden champions.

Hidden champions teach that exceptional management means doing small things better than the competitors instead of managing only one great thing.

Around 1,000 of these companies are global market leaders in their segment and are labelled hidden champions.

The corporate culture of hidden champions is distinctive.

There are so many hidden champions that would fit well with us, even those that have a certain distant tie to (our division) Technology.

Japan’s hidden champions will probably need to unite in some form to maintain the financial and technical strength they need to stay dominant.

On the other hand, customers of hidden champions depend on their products and they cannot easily change their source.

Hidden champions normally work in niche markets.

Suddenly the flashes and shrill reports of rifles revealed the hidden champions of liberty.

They are the hidden champions of job growth and innovation, the real muscle of the American economy," says Inc.

Simon, Hermann: Hidden champions : lessons from 500 of the world's best unknown companies.

Hidden champions also operate extremely close to their customers, and their customers' needs are an important driver for their innovations.

This list of companies, selected by Herman Simon 2009, gives an idea of what hidden champions are:

Hidden champions are small and medium enterprises (SME).

Hidden champions are relatively small but highly successful companies that are concealed behind a curtain of inconspicuousness, invisibility, and sometimes secrecy.

It also seems to be evident that to maintain market leadership hidden champions do business on their own, rather than depend on working in cooperation with others.

Hidden champions are elitist companies that other small and medium-sized companies (SME) in particular can learn from.

A serious problem for hidden champions, as it is for SMEs in general, is to attract international professionals.

In Germany the concept of hidden champion is known to some extent, and therefore hidden champions there are able to utilise this label to recruit staff.

Fryges, Helmut: Hidden champions : how young and small technology oriented firms can attain high export sales ratios.

Witt, Alessa: Internationalisation of hidden champions : market entry and timing strategies with international management and business ethics cases.