Internet technologies allow supply chains to use virtualizations dynamically in operational management
processes. This will improve support for food companies in dealing with perishable products, unpredictable
supply variations and stringent food safety and sustainability requirements. Virtualization enables
supply chain actors to monitor, control, plan and optimize business processes remotely and in realtime
through the Internet, based on virtual objects instead of observation on-site. This paper analyses the
concept of virtual food supply chains from an Internet of Things perspective and proposes an architecture
to implement enabling information systems. As a proof of concept, the architecture is applied to a case
study of a fish supply chain. These developments are expected to establish a basis for virtual supply chain
optimization, simulation and decision support based on on-line operational data. In the Internet of
Things food supply chains can become self-adaptive systems in which smart objects operate, decide and
learn autonomously.