According to statistics released by First Data, an information commerce provider, the number of gift cards sold at quick-service restaurants between January and June of this year jumped 12.4 percent over the same period of 2009. Overall, the number of gift cards sold by merchants in the first six months of the year increased 2.4 percent over the first six months of 2009.
Mike Hursta, vice president of gift cards for First Data, says one explanation for the big jump is the increased use of loyalty programs in the quick-serve....