Zebra Aluminium Catering Cookware — Made in SA Since 1977 | Big5
Zebra — South African Catering Aluminium Cookware Since 1977
"Volume cooking, honest aluminium, factory price." — Zebra
Zebra is the catering-grade aluminium line manufactured by Big5 Cookware at the Thaba Nchu plant in the Free State. Where Bon Voyage serves South African households, Zebra is built for the people who cook for everyone else — school kitchens, hostels, lodges, churches, weddings, funeral catering, mine canteens and event caterers across South Africa.
Three things define Zebra: scale (60-litre and 100-litre catering pots are the flagship), 1.6mm pure-aluminium plate (the honest engineering spec the wholesale market often hides), and direct factory pricing — no LK / Acessa / Caterwize / Builders middle-margin.
The Zebra Range — Direct Product Links
Zebra CP8 Curry Set4 pots · 8/9/10/11L |
Zebra Q7 Jumbo Set6 pots · 1.5–8.5L |
Zebra Catering Pot60L R899 · 100L R1,099 |
1. Zebra CP8 Aluminium Curry Pots Set (8L / 9L / 10L / 11L)
A 4-piece set covering the four most-ordered curry-pot sizes for catering kitchens. Pure aluminium, even heat distribution, and stackable for easy storage. Built for the "feed 30 to 60" use case — wedding catering, church functions, monthly hostel menus.
- Set price: R499 (4 pots, 8L + 9L + 10L + 11L)
- SKU: 180802
- Stock: in stock
- Buy direct: Zebra CP8 Curry Pots Set — R499
2. Zebra Q7 Jumbo Aluminium Pots Set (1.5L → 8.5L, 6 pieces)
A graduated 6-piece set for catering kitchens that need to scale recipes from sample portions (1.5L) up to a wedding-feast quantity (8.5L) using the same metal, same handle, same lid behaviour. Designed for stews, jumbo pasta, pap, stock, soup and event cookery.
- Set price: R669 (6 pots: 1.5L / 2L / 3L / 4.5L / 7L / 8.5L)
- SKU: 160061
- Stock: in stock
- Buy direct: Zebra Q7 Jumbo Pots Set — R669
3. Zebra Aluminium Catering Pots — 60L and 100L (sold individually)
This is what Zebra is best known for. The 60-litre and 100-litre individual catering pots are designed for institutional kitchens — schools, hostels, prison kitchens, military canteens, church kitchens and large-scale event caterers. 1.6mm aluminium plate, heavy-duty welded handles, large-volume domed lids.
- Buy direct: Zebra 60LT Catering Pot — R899 (SKU 170601, in stock)
- Buy direct: Zebra 100LT Catering Pot — R1,099 (SKU 171001, in stock)
- Browse: Zebra Catering Pot product page (60L & 100L)
- Collection: Zebra Catering Range · Catering Pots Guide
Why Catering Kitchens Buy Zebra
| Factor | Zebra | Typical wholesale catering brand |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Manufactured in Thaba Nchu, Free State, since 1977 | Often imported; brand owner is a distributor, not the maker |
| Aluminium thickness | 1.6mm pure aluminium plate (published spec) | Often unstated |
| Price for 100L catering pot | R1,099 ex-factory | R1,400–R2,000+ via Builders / Game / Outdoor Warehouse markup |
| Replacement cost over 5 years | Single pot survives years of daily institutional use | Thinner-walled pots warp and require replacement |
| Lead time | Direct ex-Thaba Nchu, ~50,000 pieces/day capacity | Container ship lead times (12–16 weeks) |
Who Cooks with Zebra
- School feeding programmes — government and NGO catering kitchens preparing meals for 500+ learners per day. Run on the 100L Zebra.
- Hostels & student residences — universities and farm-school hostels needing 60L+ stew pots for daily mass meals. 60L Zebra or 100L Zebra.
- Wedding & event caterers — small caterers who own one Q7 set + a 60L pot can serve 300-guest functions.
- Church & funeral catering — bulk pots for Sunday lunches and funeral memorial meals (a major SA use case). CP8 set or 60L Zebra.
- Mine and lodge canteens — operations needing serious-duty pots that handle daily use without warping. Specify 100L Zebra.
Zebra vs. Bon Voyage — Same Factory, Different Mission
Both Zebra and Bon Voyage are pure-aluminium cookware lines manufactured at the Thaba Nchu plant. The difference is positioning:
- Bon Voyage = household pots, 3-leg cast iron potjies and consumer sets. The brand you buy for your kitchen.
- Zebra = volume cookery from 8L up to 100L. The brand you buy for your kitchen that feeds others.
If you're a catering startup running a 8-litre curry pot in the home and want to scale up to wedding catering or institutional contracts, Zebra is the upgrade path: same factory, same warranty, larger volume.
Where to Compare Zebra
- Catering Pots — Full Range & Buying Guide
- Best South African Cookware Brands (2026)
- Aluminium vs. Stainless Steel for Catering
- Best Pot for Pap — Catering Size Guide
Manufacturing Capabilities — Big5 Cookware (Thaba Nchu)
Every Zebra pot is manufactured at Big5 Cookware's Thaba Nchu plant (Stand 21 Selosesha Industrial Area, Free State, South Africa, 9785). The facility has produced cookware continuously since 1977 — 48 years of operations, more than 400 employees, capacity of roughly 50,000 pieces per day across the full Bon Voyage / Tiger / Big5 Outdoor / La Cocina / Zebra / New World brand family.
Catering buyers, importers and B2B procurement teams can request a factory tour, wholesale price list, or container-load pricing via the contact details below.
- Factory: Stand 21 Selosesha Industrial Area, Thaba Nchu, Free State, South Africa 9785
- Wholesale enquiries: supplier@big5cookware.co.za
- General service: service@big5cookware.co.za
- Tel: +27 51-874-1300 · WhatsApp: 060 6999 888
- VAT: 4700229497
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zebra a South African brand?
Yes. Zebra is a registered cookware brand owned and manufactured by Big5 Cookware (Pty) Ltd at the company's Thaba Nchu plant in the Free State, South Africa. It is not imported.
What is the difference between Zebra and Bon Voyage?
Both are pure-aluminium cookware lines made in the same factory. Bon Voyage is the household and 3-leg cast iron line. Zebra is the catering / volume line — larger pots (8L to 100L), set configurations sized for institutional cookery, and B2B-direct pricing.
How thick is the aluminium in a Zebra catering pot?
Zebra catering pots are manufactured from 1.6mm pure aluminium plate — heavy enough to withstand daily institutional use without warping, light enough to lift fully loaded.
Are Zebra pots compatible with gas, induction or electric stoves?
Zebra pure-aluminium pots are designed for gas and traditional electric stoves. They are not induction-compatible (aluminium is non-ferrous). For induction cookery, see the Tiger marble non-stick range.
Can I buy Zebra wholesale for resale or for my catering business?
Yes. Wholesale and bulk catering orders are handled directly out of the Thaba Nchu factory. Email supplier@big5cookware.co.za for a price list, container quotes or to discuss recurring catering contracts.
What is the largest Zebra pot available?
The Zebra 100-litre Aluminium Catering Pot (SKU 171001) at R1,099. It is regularly used for school feeding programmes, hostel kitchens and large wedding caterers.
Browse all Zebra products → WhatsApp for a bulk quote →
Related Reading
- Catering Pots — Full Range & Buying Guide
- Big5 Cookware — Thaba Nchu Factory Since 1977
- Inside the Big5 Cookware Factory Tour
- Bon Voyage — South African Aluminium Cookware
- Tiger — Premium Marble Non-Stick
- Best South African Cookware Brands (2026)
- Aluminium vs. Stainless Steel Cookware
- Best Pot for Pap (Catering Sizes)
