A process for the production of sucrose-6-ester is disclosed. The process includes, in order, the steps of: (a) providing a first reaction mixture including sucrose, a reaction vehicle, and an organotin-based acylation promoter; (b) removing water from the first reaction mixture to afford a second reaction mixture that is substantially free from water; and (c) adding a carboxylic acid anhydride to the second reaction mixture to afford a third reaction mixture, thereby producing a sucrose-6-ester; wherein: during step (b), the removing of water includes distillation of water with the reaction vehicle using an apparatus supplying a heat flux of from 500 to 25,000 BTU/hrft2 (1577 to 78865 W/m2) selected from the group consisting of wiped film evaporators, agitated thin film evaporators, falling film evaporators and rising film evaporators.