Air New Zealand officially unveiled 'A Taste of Aotearoa' last week, highlighting the array of locally sourced ingredients for its newly updated on-flight menu.
The all-new menu, drawing inspiration from Māori tradition and contemporary cuisine, is now gracing the Business Premier cabins on all long-haul flights departing from New Zealand.
Oamaru-based Whitestone Cheese, are one of the local suppliers whose produce is a part of the new menu and its Managing Director Simon Berry told REX host Dominic George
"It's great! (We're) really pleased to be at this level, being named on there and having the brand exposed to premium travellers," he said.
Early indications suggest New Zealand's biggest airline will require around 100kg of Whitestone Cheese per week.
Although Berry admitted that is just an estimate, and could change once both parties get a better understanding of the demand, he's excited at the prospect of being able to showcase a wide array of Kiwi cheese to international visitors.
"I think from the consumer's perspective on those flights too having a good offering of all of New Zealand is fantastic to celebrate that, particularly for visitors coming to New Zealand."
The five cheeses they are currently offering are Windsor Blue, Mount Domett Double Cream Brie, Mount Kyeburn Smoked Cheddar, Creamy Havarti and an original Oamaru Blue, which because it is a seasonal cheese, could be swapped out for a different blue depending on stock throughout the year.
Forced to close their Whitestone Cheese Bar formerly in Auckland late last year, a new restaurant is currently under construction in Oamaru which Berry said they hope to have ready to open in mid-October 2023.
Just a block off State Highway 1, the 55-seat restaurant is a very different vibe from their Auckland bar. Alongside a huge variety of cheeses, the diner/deli will also offer gourmet burgers, shakes and toasted sandwiches, all of which are constructed with 100% locally sourced ingredients.
"It's right there on the main road, pull in, car parking out front, people can call in get a hot cheese roll, huge toasted sandwich range, multiple markets we're catering for.
"We want this to be the iconic representation of the region."
Listen to the full chat between Whitestone Cheese Managing Director Simon Berry and Dominic George above.
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