Pizza Hut tries gift cards 2.0-2008Pizza Hut tries gift cards 2.0-2008

DALLAS Pizza Hut, based here, has launched what it says is the pizza segment's first gift card that can be purchased, given and redeemed exclusively online.

Visitors to www.pizzahut.com/giftcards can select a theme for their eGift Cards, from among 22 options, and an amount to give. They then fill in a personal message and information about the recipient, who will receive an e-mail notifying him of the gift. The giver can choose a date on which the eGift Card is to be sent up to 90 days in advance.

Consumers can redeem the cards online or choose the more traditional in-store or over-the-phone methods to use them at one of the 6,200 U.S. restaurants or 4,000 overseas units affiliated with the chain owned by Yum! Brands Inc.