Retailers Drive Profitability and Loyalty with Lula Direct: The Most Complete First-Party AI-Driven Delivery Platform

Philadelphia, PA (June 24, 2025)  Lula Commerce, a leading digital commerce provider for convenience stores and retailers, today announced the public launch of Lula Direct, the AI-powered, first-party ordering platform purpose-built to help retailers take control of their digital storefronts.

Retailers have been investing in e-commerce for well over a decade to expand their reach, boost sales, and adapt to evolving customer expectations. In recent years, this digital shift has accelerated across the convenience store industry, where operators are now embracing online ordering and delivery to stay competitive amid changing consumer habits. Lula’s flagship product, Lula Hub, has powered thousands of retail locations to activate and manage third-party marketplaces through Lula Channels (e.g., Uber Eats, Grubhub, DoorDash), supporting brands such as Par Mar Oil, Circle K franchisees, Jacksons Food Stores, United Pacific (Rocket Stores), and other leading retailers nationwide.

With the public launch of Lula Direct, Lula takes the next step, giving retailers the tools to increase profitability, own the customer relationship, and unlock rich first-party data. This unlocks powerful opportunities in retail media, loyalty, and personalized commerce experiences that deepen engagement and drive long-term growth.

"Consumers expect retailers to provide an online ordering experience in a digital-first world, but most convenience stores struggle to find the time and resources as labor costs rise," said Tom Falzani, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Lula Commerce. "Lula Direct changes that with features that save time, cut costs, and drive revenue."

Unlike traditional e-commerce tools, Lula Direct takes a hands-on, outcome-driven approach. Designed to eliminate operational overhead and drive profitable growth, Lula Direct helps retailers set up a branded ordering experience in under a week, while automating the work behind the scenes.

How Lula Direct Helps Retailers Save Time and Cut Costs:

• Fast, Full-Service Launch: Lula handles menu digitization, compliance, delivery setup, and branding across all sites, saving retailers 60+ hours and $10K+ in activation costs.
• AI-Personalized Commerce: Intelligent product recommendations based on consumer behavior boost cart conversion and increase basket sizes by 22% on average.
• AI Workforce Built-In: Lula Direct includes 14+ AI Operators that replace manual tasks across operations, finance, marketing, and support, delivering over $250K in annual labor savings.
• Automated Tax & Compliance: Tax registration, calculation, and filing are handled automatically. Alcohol and tobacco compliance built in with ID verification & geo-fencing.
• Conversion-Optimized by Default: Lula tracks funnel performance down to the item level, enabling data-driven merchandising and continuous site optimization.
• Integrated Ecosystem: Connects seamlessly with 30+ systems, from loyalty platforms to POS and app providers, enabling retailers to build a fully connected commerce stack.

"The industry is changing fast, and Lula Direct has features built hand-in-hand with top retailers," said Adit Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO at Lula Commerce. "As labor costs rise, retailers need outcomes, not just software. Lula Direct delivers the needed tools and takes the work off their plate."

Lula Direct was first offered as an add-on for existing customers using Lula Hub, and is now officially available to retailers nationwide. To learn more, visit Lula Direct’s page.

About Lula Commerce

Lula Commerce is a premier provider of digital commerce solutions, specializing in the convenience retail industry. Their comprehensive platform offers tools for inventory management, customer engagement, and business intelligence, enabling retailers to enhance operations and drive growth. For more information, visit www.lulacommerce.com.

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