Deusmar Queirós founded Pague Menos in 1981 as a small chain of pharmacies in Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará, which also received payments from customers for bills such as electricity and water. The additional flow of consumers fueled expansion, pushing the boundaries of the northeast region. In August 2022, the company became the second leading pharmaceutical retailer in Brazil after completing the acquisition of Extrafarma. Mário Queirós, son of the founder, is the current CEO.
