Frigorifico Mercosul initiated its activities in 1998 in Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, with a slaughter capacity of 800 head. This capacity has increased constantly due to the integration of new packing plants in Rio Grande do Sul, in the cities of Mato Leitão ( 2001), Alegrete (2003) and Capão do Leão (2004), in Paraná, in the city of Nova Londrina ( 2006 ), in Goiás, in the city of Pirinópolis (2007), and the construction of the Tucumã plant in Pará (scheduled to initiate operations in April 2009). The company slaughtered approximately 600 thousand head in 2008. It is focused on fresh beef, having a premium positioning in the market due to the differentiated quality of its beef, derived from European thoroughbred cattle. With seven plants, 4 in Rio Grande do Sul, 1 in Paraná, 1 in Mato Grosso, 1 in Goiás and one to be inaugurated in Pará, Frigorifico Mercosul is one of the biggest beef producers in Brazil.