Finland’s most famous salesman is to lend his weight to Pölkky Oy’s marketing campaign.

The company has just become the 30th member of the 18-month-old Santa Claus Foundation, giving it the right to use the title ‘Official Wood Supplier to Santa Claus’ in the international marketing of its wood products.

The foundation is a non-profit making organisation which directs profits via UNICEF to charitable projects. Its first venture is to assist in the building of a safe meeting place for street children in St Petersburg.