New Orleans Easter baskets have one thing in common

The big picture: Elmer's started in New Orleans more than 170 years ago.

• It was the country's oldest family-owned chocolate company before last year's sale to the Hoffmann Family of Companies, a Chicago-based equity firm. Financial terms were not disclosed.
• Rob and Michael Nelson, the third-generation family owners, retained partial ownership and remain involved in the company's leadership, Hoffmann said at the time of the sale.
• The purchase was a "pure expansion and growth play" for the firm and didn't include job cuts, Hoffmann's co-CEO told The Times-Picayune.

Zoom in: Elmer's primary business is making boxed chocolates for Valentine's Day, CEO Rob Nelson previously told Axios.

• But its Easter candy has a loyal Gulf Coast following that snaps up the eggs every spring.
• Heavenly Hash Eggs are the bestseller, he says, closely followed by Gold Brick Eggs then Pecan Eggs.

What's inside: A Heavenly Hash Egg is filled with marshmallow fluff and roasted almonds and covered in either milk or dark chocolate.

• A Gold Brick Egg is a solid chocolate-covered meltaway egg filled with pecans and more chocolate.

• A Pecan Egg is an egg-shaped nougat covered in pecans and caramel.

Catch up quick: Elmer's was founded in 1855 as the Miller Candy Co., according to 64 Parishes.

• The company changed its name to the Miller-Elmer Candy Company and invented CheeWees about a dozen years before Cheetos were introduced.
• The cheese curl business was spun off and is now made by Elmer's Fine Foods.
• The Nelson family bought Elmer Chocolate in the 1960s and later moved manufacturing to Ponchatoula.

Go deeper: More about Elmer Chocolate

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling of the Hoffmann Family of Companies.