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

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