Abstract: A free-flowing agglomerated powder detergent process and the resulting composition includes from about 5% to about 80% of an alkali metal carbonate; from about 5% to about 50% of a detergent surfactant, and, up to about 25% of an alkali metal salt of a carboxylic acid, wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group of carboxylic acids that, below a first temperature, have a greater water solubility than the water solubility of its corresponding alkali-metal salt. The alkali metal salt is preferably provided solely by the reaction of (a) a premix comprising the alkali metal carbonate coated with the surfactant (b) a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, malic acid, and mixtures thereof, and (c) water.