The marketing coup came after a visit to the boutique cheesemaker's Oamaru plant earlier this year by Woolworths buyer Jeremy Samuels.
He was so impressed by what he saw and ate, he put Whitestone cheese platters and four individual cheeses on his supermarkets' shelves, with the prospect of more joining them.
Whitestone general manager Simon Berry said Mr Samuels was on holiday in the South Island and asked to visit the Torridge St plant.
He met staff, looked at the factory operation, was satisfied it could meet demand - and was most impressed by the regional image and taste of the cheeses.
The fact Whitestone was already supplying the Woolworths-owned Progressive supermarket chain in New Zealand helped because the Oamaru company knew the management and ordering systems used, Mr Berry said.
Whitestone was sending its four-cheese platter (Totara Tasty, Livingstone Gold, Airedale and signature Windsor Blue cheeses) along with Airedale, Totara Tasty, Creamy Havarta and Windsor Blue individual cheeses.
Because of efficiencies achieved at the plant, it was able to meet the Australian demand within its existing plant and staff.
Whitestone had been progressively introducing lean manufacturing principles into its plant, through New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and private consultants, dramatically improving its processes, Mr Berry said.
At the same time, the company was looking forward to featuring on Annabel Langbein's television series, The Free Range Cook, on TV One at 7pm on October 23.
The programme would focus on Whitestone Cheese, but cover the North Otago region with visits to the historic area, port and through the Waiareka Valley limestone country to Elephant Rocks.
All the milk for the cheeses comes from North Otago, the limestone giving it its regional flavour.
The programme, which would also screen in Australia, Asia, the United States and Europe, included recipes using Whitestone cheeses and milk from one of its suppliers, Ray McNally's farm at Maheno.
They were also included in the accompanying recipe book, The Free Range Cook.
