Abstract: Metallic salts of higher molecular weight fatty acids are produced in a continuous process by feeding fatty acid and base into a plug flow reactor to maintain a residence time of about 2 to about 60 minutes at a temperature of about 75.degree. F. to about 280.degree. F. to obtain a metallic salt, then grinding the metallic salt in a hammer mill to obtain coarse particles and then grinding the coarse particles in a jet mill to obtain fine particles of the metallic salt. Optionally, the fatty acid and base may be fed initially into a stirred-tank reactor to maintain a residence time of about 10 to about 80 minutes at a temperature of from about 115.degree. F. to about 300.degree. F. to initiate metallic salt reaction before feeding the metallic salt reaction mixture into the plug flow reactor.