The lid of the NW40 pot is damaged on the edge it's bent
Big5 Cookware: Made in Thaba Nchu, Free State Since 1977
Big5 Cookware: Made in Thaba Nchu, Free State Since 1977
Most "South African" cookware brands aren't actually made in South Africa. They're imported, repackaged, and the "Made in SA" label means the box was printed locally.
Big5 Cookware is different. We press, cast, finish, and pack pots in our Thaba Nchu, Free State factory. The factory has been operating since 1977 — nearly 50 years.
Factory address: Stand 21 Selosesha Industrial Area, Thaba Nchu, Free State, South Africa 9785. (Selosesha is the industrial precinct of Thaba Nchu municipality, ~70 km east of Bloemfontein.)
Our Six-Brand Family
Big5 Cookware operates six distinct brands, each serving a different South African kitchen:
| Brand | Position | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Bon Voyage | Core trust brand | Daily pap, samp, stew — plus traditional 3-leg cast iron potjies. 99.9% pure aluminium, rated 4.8★ on Takealot by 600+ SA families. |
| Tiger | Upgrade choice | Beautiful marble-coated non-stick + polished stainless. European style design, South African price. |
| Big5 Outdoor | Braai specialist | Kettle braais, cast iron potjie pots, camping cookware |
| La Cocina | Heirloom gift | Enamelled cast iron — South Africa's accessible Le Creuset alternative, from R999 |
| Zebra | Volume / catering | Large aluminium catering pots for spaza shops, taverns, schools, event caterers |
| New World | Enamel heritage | Vitreous enamel-on-steel plates, mugs, basins — the original Big5 product line since 1977 |
Why Six Brands?
One brand can't be everything to everyone. By running six brands, each can have a clear, focused promise instead of trying to please everyone:
- Bon Voyage doesn't try to be stylish — it's honest and reliable
- Tiger doesn't try to be cheap — it's designed for the cook who wants beautiful
- Big5 Outdoor doesn't try to be premium — it's built for braai culture
- La Cocina doesn't try to be everyday — it's the heirloom gift
- Zebra doesn't try to retail — it's catering-volume pricing
- New World doesn't try to be cookware — it's the daily-use enamel tableware tradition
Each brand stays true to one promise. The South African cook gets the right tool for their actual kitchen.
Our flagship Bon Voyage line carries the company tagline that anchors the whole portfolio: "Made in South Africa, trusted by millions of families." Same Thaba Nchu factory floor, same SA promise across all six brands.
Why Thaba Nchu Matters
Thaba Nchu is in the Free State, ~70 km east of Bloemfontein on the N8. The Selosesha Industrial Area is the precinct's manufacturing zone, with cookware production going back to 1977. It's not Joburg, it's not Cape Town — it's a working town where actual manufacturing happens. Our factory employs ~400 South Africans, runs ~50,000 pieces per day (~1 million pieces per year), and ships finished cookware to retailers across the country.
The cost of operating a real factory is what makes our prices fair: no shipping containers from China, no European brand markup, no celebrity endorsement budget. You pay for the metal and the craftsmanship.
Factory Shop, Wholesale & B2B Inquiries
If you run a restaurant, take-away, B&B, lodge, hardware store, or kitchenware retailer in South Africa, you can buy direct from our Thaba Nchu factory at wholesale rates — same SA-made quality, no middleman markup.
| Channel | Best For | How to Order |
|---|---|---|
| Factory Shop | Walk-in trade buyers, wholesale samples | Visit Stand 21 Selosesha Industrial Area, Thaba Nchu, Free State |
| Wholesale Order | Retailers, restaurants, B2B | Email supplier@big5cookware.co.za with your business name + VAT number + product list |
| WhatsApp / Phone | Quick quote, urgent stock | WhatsApp 060 6999 888 / Tel +27 51-874-1300 |
| Catering Pot Bulk | NW Catering range (NW8–NW50) | Browse NW Catering Pots — contact us for 10+ unit pricing |
| Cast Iron Bulk | Restaurants, lodges with braai service | Bon Voyage 3-Leg Cast Iron Potjie — 8 sizes |
Factory address: Stand 21 Selosesha Industrial Area, Thaba Nchu, Free State, South Africa 9785
Tel: +27 51-874-1300
WhatsApp: 060-6999-888
Email: supplier@big5cookware.co.za
VAT: 4700229497
Where to Find Us (Retail)
Online: big5cookware.co.za · Takealot
In-store: Pick n Pay · Checkers · Makro
Related Reading
- Why Bon Voyage
- About Tiger Cookware
- Best SA Cookware Brands 2026
- Cookware Material Guide
- 3-Leg Cast Iron Potjie vs Flat-Bottom Pap Pot
- La Cocina — Enamelled Cast Iron
- New World Enamelware Since 1977
- Best Potjie Pot in South Africa 2026 (Big5 Outdoor)
- Zebra Catering Aluminium Cookware
- Catering Pots South Africa
- Contact Big5 Cookware