Looking to grow its product in the 140-million-person Russian market, the Hazelnut Promotion Group, or FTG, has hired world-champion figure skater Irina Slutskaya to promote the Turkish export in her home country.

FTG agreed with Russian figure skater who is also a World champion and Olympic medallist to promote Turkish hazelnuts to Russian market.

Slutskaya, who has also medaled in the Olympics, will appear in commercials, conveying the message that she gains all her endless energy by eating hazelnuts.

The FTG hopes to export 7,000 tons of hazelnuts to the Russian market this year.

Hurriyet Daily News, 29 August 2010