Easter: A Great Week For Candy Makers

There are those who will say this week is all about religion, bunnies, and boiled eggs. But the truth is that the people who benefit the most from Easter are the candy makers and sellers. While it doesn't equal the candy sales of another holiday -- Halloween -- the candy sales for Easter is a solid second. In the week leading up to Easter, about 71 million pounds of chocolate candy will be sold (a full 20 million pounds more than is sold for Valentine's Day).

So what is the favorite chocolate candy in the United States? Here are the top ten according to msnbc.com:

1. SNICKERS
unit sales: 407,409,600
dollar sales: $424,112,200
introduced: 1930

2. M&M's
unit sales: 383,686,900
dollar sales: $417,264,000
introduced: 1941

3. REECE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS
unit sales: 347,164,400
dollar sales: $420,451,700
introduced: 1923

4. HERSHEY'S
unit sales: 249,449,600
dollar sales: $261,430,700
introduced: 1900

5. KIT KAT
unit sales: 197,127,200
dollar sales: $209,861,000
introduced: 1935

6. TWIX
unit sales: 161,715,900
dollar sales: $193,999,300
introduced: 1967

7. 3 MUSKETEERS
unit sales: 94,410,500
dollar sales: $101,472,500
introduced: 1932

8. MILKY WAY
unit sales: 80,053,290
dollar sales: $76,982,430
introduced:1923

9. HERSHEY'S COOKIES 'N' CREME
unit sales: 73,445,960
dollar sales: $82,236,820
introduced: 1994

10. ALMOND JOY
unit sales: 60,808,770
dollar sales: $65,632,620
introduced: 1946