The era of refrigerated meat

The trip of “Le Frigorifique” vessel through the Atlantic Ocean carrying chilled meat from the River Plate to Europe in 1876 can be considered the milestone that marks the beginning of a true revolution for the meat industry.

The inventor of the mechanic refrigeration system and shipowner, Engineer Charles Tellier, was accompanied by two Uruguayan citizens that collaborated in this project: Francisco Lecocq and Federico Nin Reyes.

The first slaughter plant was established in Cerro neighborhood in 1902 and named “La Frigorífica Uruguaya”.

In 1911 the Cibils salting house was purchased by the Swift Company from Chicago. Then, Artigas slaughter plant was founded in 1915 in Cerro neighborhood and in 1924 the “Frigorífico Anglo” corporation purchased the Liebig plant in the city of Fray Bentos.

In 1928 Law 8282 created the National Slaughter Plant, an autonomous government body that had the monopoly of meat supply in Montevideo until 1978.

At present Uruguay has several authorized slaughter plants with Official Veterinary Inspection services, which allows consumers to have access to safe high quality meat in the whole country.