Catalyst Brands to deploy Figure humanoid robots in commercial locations
What happened
- Catalyst Brands and Figure AI said on May 26 they signed a commercial partnership starting at Catalyst’s Reno, Nevada distribution logistics center. - Catalyst said the Reno facility received a $40 million infrastructure update in 2024, where Figure humanoids will support Joey Pouch sorting-system sequencing. - Catalyst and Figure said they will now identify additional use cases for humanoid automation across Catalyst’s operations. (corporate.jcpenney.com)
Why it matters
Catalyst Brands and Figure AI said on May 26 they signed a commercial partnership that will begin at Catalyst’s distribution logistics center in Reno, Nevada. The companies said Figure’s humanoid robots will be used on repetitive, physically demanding sorting and packing work inside the retailer’s supply chain. Catalyst said the deployment starts in an operating facility rather than a lab or pilot environment, with the initial work tied to an existing automated sorting system. The announcement came in a statement published by Catalyst’s JCPenney newsroom. (corporate.jcpenney.com) ### Which facility is getting the first deployment? Catalyst Brands said the first phase will take place at its Reno, Nevada Distribution Logistics Center. The company said the site underwent a $40 million infrastructure update in 2024 and already uses a Joey Pouch sorting system, which it described as a computerized induction, sorting and packing system. Figure’s humanoids will first help associates with sequencing work in that Joey Pouch system, according to the statement. (corporate.jcpenney.com) Catalyst and Figure said the initial focus is on sorting and packing tasks that are repetitive and physically demanding. ### What did the companies actually agree to do? Catalyst Brands said the agreement is a commercial partnership, not just a research collaboration. Figure said on its news page that it signed an agreement with Catalyst Brands to scale humanoid operations, and Catalyst said the arrangement is designed to support supply-chain efficiency and operational scalability across its portfolio. (corporate.jcpenney.com) Marc Rosen, chief executive of Catalyst Brands, said the company sees the deployment as part of a broader effort to modernize operations while keeping workers focused on “higher-value work.” Brett Adcock, founder and chief executive of Figure, said Catalyst’s multi-brand structure gives Figure a chance to deploy a “standardized labor solution” across different operating environments. (corporate.jcpenney.com) ### Why is Catalyst Brands the customer to watch here? Catalyst Brands said it was established in 2025 when JCPenney and the former SPARC Group combined. (corporate.jcpenney.com) The company said its portfolio includes JCPenney, Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Lucky Brand and Nautica, and that it operates 1,800 retail stores, shop-in-shops and e-commerce platforms in the United States and Canada. That footprint matters because the Reno deployment gives Figure an entry point into a retailer with multiple brands, multiple product flows and seasonal peaks. (corporate.jcpenney.com) Catalyst said the agreement gives it “optionality” to align automation with business growth and manage seasonality in the years ahead. ### How does this fit into Figure’s broader rollout? Figure’s news page lists the Catalyst agreement on May 26, 2026 among a series of product and operations updates, including “Ramping Figure 03 Production” on April 29, 2026 and “Introducing Helix 02: Full-Body Autonomy” on January 27, 2026. (corporate.jcpenney.com) That places the Catalyst deal alongside Figure’s recent push to move from demonstrations and development work toward larger operational deployments. Catalyst said the partnership is also the first agreement between Figure and a portfolio company of Brookfield, which it described as an investor with significant positions in both Figure and Catalyst. (corporate.jcpenney.com) The companies did not disclose financial terms, robot volumes or a start date beyond saying the partnership is beginning in its initial phase at Reno. ### What happens next inside the rollout? Catalyst Brands said the next step is for Catalyst and Figure to identify the best use cases for humanoid automation across the company’s operations. (figure.ai) The companies said those findings will shape how automation is rolled out more broadly across the portfolio. The immediate work remains centered on the Reno distribution logistics center, the Joey Pouch sorting workflow and the brands inside Catalyst’s retail portfolio, including JCPenney. (corporate.jcpenney.com) Catalyst and Figure have not yet announced additional sites or a timetable for expansion beyond the initial phase.
Key numbers
- Catalyst Brands and Figure AI said on May 26 they signed a commercial partnership starting at Catalyst’s Reno, Nevada distribution logistics center.
- Catalyst said the Reno facility received a $40 million infrastructure update in 2024, where Figure humanoids will support Joey Pouch sorting-system sequencing.
- (corporate.jcpenney.com) Catalyst Brands and Figure AI said on May 26 they signed a commercial partnership that will begin at Catalyst’s distribution logistics center in Reno, Nevada.
- The company said the site underwent a $40 million infrastructure update in 2024 and already uses a Joey Pouch sorting system, which it described as a computerized induction, sorting and packing system.
What happens next
- Catalyst Brands and Figure AI said on May 26 they signed a commercial partnership that will begin at Catalyst’s distribution logistics center in Reno, Nevada.
- The companies said Figure’s humanoid robots will be used on repetitive, physically demanding sorting and packing work inside the retailer’s supply chain.
- Catalyst Brands said the first phase will take place at its Reno, Nevada Distribution Logistics Center.
Quick answers
What happened in Catalyst Brands to deploy Figure humanoid robots in commercial locations?
Catalyst Brands and Figure AI said on May 26 they signed a commercial partnership starting at Catalyst’s Reno, Nevada distribution logistics center. Catalyst said the Reno facility received a $40 million infrastructure update in 2024, where Figure humanoids will support Joey Pouch sorting-system sequencing. Catalyst and Figure said they will now identify additional use cases for humanoid automation across Catalyst’s operations. (corporate.jcpenney.com)
Why does Catalyst Brands to deploy Figure humanoid robots in commercial locations matter?
Catalyst Brands and Figure AI said on May 26 they signed a commercial partnership that will begin at Catalyst’s distribution logistics center in Reno, Nevada. The companies said Figure’s humanoid robots will be used on repetitive, physically demanding sorting and packing work inside the retailer’s supply chain. Catalyst said the deployment starts in an operating facility rather than a lab or pilot environment, with the initial work tied to an existing automated sorting system. The announcement came in a statement published by Catalyst’s JCPenney newsroom. (corporate.jcpenney.com) Which facility is getting the first deployment? Catalyst Brands said the first phase will take place at its Reno, Nevada Distribution Logistics Center. The company said the site underwent a $40 million infrastructure update in 2024 and already uses a Joey Pouch sorting system, which it described as a computerized induction, sorting and packing system. Figure’s humanoids will first help associates with sequencing work in that Joey Pouch system, according to the statement. (corporate.jcpenney.com) Catalyst and Figure said the initial focus is on sorting and packing tasks that are repetitive and physically demanding. What did the companies actually agree to do? Catalyst Brands said the agreement is a commercial partnership, not just a research collaboration. Figure said on its news page that it signed an agreement with Catalyst Brands to scale humanoid operations, and Catalyst said the arrangement is designed to support supply-chain efficiency and operational scalability across its portfolio. (corporate.jcpenney.com) Marc Rosen, chief executive of Catalyst Brands, said the company sees the deployment as part of a broader effort to modernize operations while keeping workers focused on “higher-value work.” Brett Adcock, founder and chief executive of Figure, said Catalyst’s multi-brand structure gives Figure a chance to deploy a “standardized labor solution” across different operating environments. (corporate.jcpenney.com) Why is Catalyst Brands the customer to watch here? Catalyst Brands said it was established in 2025 when JCPenney and the former SPARC Group combined. (corporate.jcpenney.com) The company said its portfolio includes JCPenney, Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Lucky Brand and Nautica, and that it operates 1,800 retail stores, shop-in-shops and e-commerce platforms in the United States and Canada. That footprint matters because the Reno deployment gives Figure an entry point into a retailer with multiple brands, multiple product flows and seasonal peaks. (corporate.jcpenney.com) Catalyst said the agreement gives it “optionality” to align automation with business growth and manage seasonality in the years ahead. How does this fit into Figure’s broader rollout? Figure’s news page lists the Catalyst agreement on May 26, 2026 among a series of product and operations updates, including “Ramping Figure 03 Production” on April 29, 2026 and “Introducing Helix 02: Full-Body Autonomy” on January 27, 2026. (corporate.jcpenney.com) That places the Catalyst deal alongside Figure’s recent push to move from demonstrations and development work toward larger operational deployments. Catalyst said the partnership is also the first agreement between Figure and a portfolio company of Brookfield, which it described as an investor with significant positions in both Figure and Catalyst. (corporate.jcpenney.com) The companies did not disclose financial terms, robot volumes or a start date beyond saying the partnership is beginning in its initial phase at Reno. What happens next inside the rollout? Catalyst Brands said the next step is for Catalyst and Figure to identify the best use cases for humanoid automation across the company’s operations. (figure.ai) The companies said those findings will shape how automation is rolled out more broadly across the portfolio. The immediate work remains centered on the Reno distribution logistics center, the Joey Pouch sorting workflow and the brands inside Catalyst’s retail portfolio, including JCPenney. (corporate.jcpenney.com) Catalyst and Figure have not yet announced additional sites or a timetable for expansion beyond the initial phase.
