Abstract: The process for the preparation of a surfactant mixture containing sucrose mono- and di-esters, by reacting a starting mixture including solid particulate sucrose, at least one triglyceride of a fatty acid having at least 8 carbon atoms and a basic transesterification catalyst, at a temperature of from 110.degree. to 140.degree. C. at atmospheric pressure and in the absence of any solvent, is improved by using a starting mixture which:(a) contains a di and/or mono-glyceride in an amount to provide a hydroxyl value of greater than 500 mg KOH/100g of starting mixture;(b) contains at least 10% by weight of a fatty acid soap in addition to the basic transesterification catalyst, at least 50% by weight of the soap being potassium soap, and(c) (when the soap content is less than 20% by weight) contains at least 25% by weight of sucrose.The improved process gives good yields in much shorter reaction times and the products have high HLB values.