Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for the synthesis of polyol fatty acid polyesters, in which a polyol and/or a fatty acid oligoester thereof, is esterified by reaction with fatty acid lower alkylester under substantially solvent-free conditions at elevated temperature in the presence of a transesterification catalyst and, optionally an emulsifier, and in which at least during the final stage of the transesterification reaction the reaction mixture is submitted to the action of a stripping agent suitable for accelerating the removal of the lower alkyl alcohol formed in said reaction. The process is of particular advantage in the synthesis of polyesters of very high degrees of conversion.