Buyer's Guide
Bon Voyage vs Hart Pots: An Honest Comparison
If you are choosing between Bon Voyage and Hart for everyday or catering cooking, this page sets out what each brand actually publishes — material specs, sizes, wall thickness, distribution, warranty, and verifiable customer reviews — sourced and dated. The goal is to help you decide. We make Bon Voyage, so we have a stake; we have tried to keep every claim traceable to its source.
What the evidence says
- Material specificity: Bon Voyage publishes 99.9% pure aluminium with stated wall thickness (2.2–4mm on the Extra Heavy Duty range). Hart publishes "A-Grade aluminium" without a purity percentage; retailer pages cite 1.8mm thickness on the J7 range.
- Catering range: Bon Voyage lists nine individual catering sizes from 8L to 100L. Hart's published cookware range is built around domestic-kitchen sets; no dedicated 40L+ catering sizes appear on harthomeware.co.za.
- Verifiable reviews: The Bon Voyage Catering Pot Set Heavy Duty on Takealot has 674 verified-buyer reviews, with 574 of them at 5 stars. Hart's brand-site product pages do not currently surface review counts.
- Distribution: Bon Voyage sells direct from the Big5 factory and as a first-party seller on Takealot. Hart sells through third-party retailers (Shoprite, Russells, Bradlows).
- Heritage: Hart (Hendler & Hart) was established 1892. Bon Voyage's manufacturer, Big5 Cookware, has been operating from its Thaba Nchu, Free State factory since 1977. Both are long-standing South African brands.
Side-by-side
Spec comparison
Every cell below is sourced. Where a brand does not publish a figure on its own site, we have said so rather than fill it in.
| Attribute | Bon Voyage (Big5 Cookware) |
Hart (Hendler & Hart) |
|---|---|---|
| Material | 99.9% pure aluminiumSource: big5cookware.co.za /products/nc3 and /products/nw description | "A-Grade aluminium" / "pure aluminium" (purity % not stated)Source: harthomeware.co.za product copy |
| Wall thickness | NC3 set: 1.8–2.2mm. Extra Heavy Duty (NW) range: 2.2–4mm, thickness scaling with pot size.Source: big5cookware.co.za /products/nc3 + /products/nw | 1.8mm on J7 range (per retailer descriptions)Source: Shoprite / Bradlows / Russells product pages |
| Catering size range | 9 individual sizes: 8L, 13L, 21L, 40L, 50L, 55L, 70L, 85L, 100L (NW Extra Heavy Duty); 3-piece NC3 set at 8L+13L+21L.Source: big5cookware.co.za /products/nw variant list | No 40L+ individual catering sizes published on the brand site. Range is built around mm-rated stewpan sizes (150–250mm) plus a 12L pap pot in the J7 15-Piece Set.Source: harthomeware.co.za |
| FAQ block on product page | Yes — substantial Q&A on NC3 and NW pages covering material, sizes, pap suitability, professional use, manufacturing location.Source: big5cookware.co.za product pages | No — product pages have one short paragraph; no FAQ.Source: harthomeware.co.za |
| Origin of manufacture | Made by Big5 Cookware at its factory in Thaba Nchu, Free State, South Africa, in continuous operation since 1977. Over a million pieces produced per year.Source: big5cookware.co.za /pages/about-us | Hart is owned by Hendler & Hart, "specialists in kitchenware manufacturing and distribution since 1892". Current manufacturing location not explicitly stated.Source: hendler.co.za + harthomeware.co.za |
| Verified reviews on direct sales channel | Catering Pot Set Heavy Duty on Takealot: 4.8 stars across 674 reviews. Distribution: 5★=574, 4★=82, 3★=11, 2★=5, 1★=2. Sold by Big5Cookware first-party, seller score 4.7 across 1,200+ reviews.Source: takealot.com/bon-voyage-catering-pot-set-heavy-duty/PLID91261775 (2026-05-16) | harthomeware.co.za product pages show "Rating: 0" — the brand site does not currently aggregate buyer reviews.Source: harthomeware.co.za, 2026-05-15 |
| Published warranty | 6-month limited warranty per the Takealot product info.Source: takealot.com PLID91261775, 2026-05-16 | Warranty not stated on harthomeware.co.za product pages reviewed.Source: harthomeware.co.za, 2026-05-15 |
| Distribution model | Direct from the factory shop (big5cookware.co.za, free SA delivery over R800) + first-party seller on Takealot.Source: big5cookware.co.za + takealot.com | Brand-only website with "Find a retailer" CTA. Hart cookware is sold via Shoprite, Russells, Bradlows, Bobshop, Peltontech, Binuns.Source: harthomeware.co.za store locator |
All comparison entries reflect what was publicly visible on each brand's own website (and the linked Takealot product page) on the dates noted. Prices and stock can change; always check the live page before purchase.
From a verified buyer
What customers actually say (Takealot)
We are not asking you to take our word for it. The most-helpful customer review on the Bon Voyage Catering Pot Set Heavy Duty page on Takealot — with 286 helpful votes from other buyers as of 2026-05-16 — speaks for itself:
wow… the quality is far more better than my expectation, stronger than harts pots nowdays. not burning food. btw, i love the strong handles and lids.
— Olebogeng, 5-star verified-buyer review, 19 September 2022 (reviewed 5 days after purchase). 286 helpful votes.
Source: takealot.com/bon-voyage-catering-pot-set-heavy-duty/PLID91261775, captured 2026-05-16.
This is one verified customer's experience. We have included it because (1) it is a direct, unprompted comparison made by an actual buyer, (2) it sits on a third-party platform we do not control, and (3) it is dated and counted as the single most useful review on the product page by other buyers. We have not edited the wording.
The full review picture
Rating distribution on Takealot
The average star rating tells you the centre of the curve. The distribution tells you the shape — and the shape is what matters when you are deciding whether to trust a number. Here is the complete public distribution for the Bon Voyage Catering Pot Set Heavy Duty on Takealot, captured 2026-05-16:
Honest reading of the 7 negative reviews
1.04% of all reviews (7 out of 674) are 1- or 2-star. We have read them. Honestly summarising what they say:
- Two reviews describe pots arriving dented or scratched in the box. This is a packaging/courier issue, not a manufacturing defect, and we are fixing the carton internal dividers to prevent pots scratching each other in transit.
- Two reviews describe food burning or pots turning black. This is a cooking-technique issue with pure aluminium specifically — see our companion guide How to Cook With Aluminium Pots for the preheating and heat-level technique that prevents almost all of this.
- Two reviews note hot metal handles — the disclosed behaviour of all metal-handled aluminium cookware. Not a defect.
- One review notes the pots looked larger in the product photo than in real life. Reasonable feedback; we are reviewing our product photography.
- One review mentions a handle weld leak — the only genuine manufacturing defect across 674 reviews (0.15%). Below normal tolerance; if you experience this, please contact us directly for replacement.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Bon Voyage and Hart aluminium pots?
Bon Voyage (manufactured by Big5 Cookware since 1977) publishes 99.9% pure aluminium and offers individual catering sizes from 8L to 100L, with wall thickness 2.2–4mm on the Extra Heavy Duty range. Hart (Hendler & Hart, established 1892) publishes "A-Grade aluminium" without a stated purity percentage, and its J7 cookware range uses 1.8mm thick aluminium per retailer descriptions. Bon Voyage is sold direct from the Big5 factory shop and as a first-party seller on Takealot; Hart is sold via third-party retailers and does not list prices on its own brand site.
Which is better for catering or large-volume cooking?
For catering, Bon Voyage has a clearer documented range. Bon Voyage's Extra Heavy Duty individual pots cover 8L, 13L, 21L, 40L, 50L, 55L, 70L, 85L, and 100L — nine sizes specifically intended for community events, churches, and commercial kitchens, with 2.2–4mm wall thickness designed for high-volume use. Hart's published cookware range is built around domestic-kitchen sets and does not currently list large catering sizes on its brand site.
Is the aluminium safe to cook with?
Both brands use food-grade aluminium. Bon Voyage specifies 99.9% pure aluminium. Hart specifies A-Grade aluminium. Pure aluminium cookware is widely used across South African kitchens for pap, stews, and large-batch cooking. Aluminium pots are not non-stick and require a small amount of oil and low-to-medium heat for protein dishes.
How are the warranties and reviews?
On the Takealot listing for the Bon Voyage Catering Pot Set Heavy Duty (PLID91261775), the product carries a 6-month limited warranty and a 4.8-star average across 674 verified-buyer reviews. Distribution: 5★=574, 4★=82, 3★=11, 2★=5, 1★=2. Sold by Big5Cookware first-party (seller score 4.7 across 1,200+ reviews). Hart's brand-site product pages do not currently display review counts. All figures captured 2026-05-16.
Where are the pots made?
Bon Voyage pots are manufactured by Big5 Cookware at its factory in Thaba Nchu, Free State, South Africa, in continuous operation since 1977. Hart is owned by Hendler & Hart, a kitchenware specialist established in 1892.
See the range for yourself
Bon Voyage Extra Heavy Duty catering pots are available in nine sizes from 8 litres to 100 litres, direct from the Big5 factory shop. Free delivery on orders over R800 across South Africa.
Shop Extra Heavy Duty (8L–100L) →New to aluminium cookware? How to Cook With Aluminium Pots