Gift Cards

12 Months Ended

Dec. 28, 2021

Gift Cards

Gift Cards

10.    Gift Cards

The following tables present information related to gift cards (in thousands):

	Fiscal year ended
	December 28, 2021		December 29, 2020
Gift card liabilities:
Beginning balance	$	184,655	$	187,978
Activations		144,892		110,670
Redemptions and breakage		(118,365)		(113,993)
Ending balance	$	211,182	$	184,655

	Fiscal year ended
	December 28, 2021		December 29, 2020
Gift card contract assets: (1)
Beginning balance	$	17,955	$	23,172
Deferrals		15,852		12,348
Amortization		(15,339)		(17,565)
Ending balance	$	18,468	$	17,955

(1) Included in prepaid expenses on the consolidated balance sheets.

The significant increases in activations, redemptions and breakage during fiscal 2021 compared to fiscal 2020 stem from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business in the prior year.