Catalyst Brands deploys Figure AI humanoid robots in Reno DC
Catalyst Brands, parent of JCPenney, plans to introduce Figure AI humanoid robots at its Reno, Nevada, Distribution Logistics Center, starting with sorting and packing work in the supply chain. The agreement puts humanoid systems into an operating retail warehouse and gives Figure a commercial deployment tied to repetitive, physically demanding logistics tasks.
Reno rollout begins with existing warehouse infrastructure
According to HomePage News, the initial phase of the partnership will begin at Catalyst Brands’ Reno distribution site. Catalyst also owns Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Lucky Brands and Nautica, making the project relevant not just to a single banner but to a broader retail portfolio. The company described the agreement as a strategic investment in automation intended to improve supply chain efficiency and support scalability across its brands.
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Figure’s next-generation humanoid robots are expected to aid employees working with the facility’s Joey Pouch induction and sorting system. Catalyst said the new automation will add to a Reno operation that already received a $40 million infrastructure update in 2024. That context suggests the humanoids are being inserted into a warehouse that has already been modernized, rather than into a greenfield robotics program.
How Figure AI humanoid robots fit warehouse work
The stated use case is narrow but commercially relevant. Catalyst said the robots will take on repetitive sorting and packing tasks, with the goal of freeing employees for higher-skill functions and reducing physical strain in day-to-day operations. In practical terms, that places the Figure AI humanoid robots in one of the most discussed roles for legged general-purpose systems, material handling inside facilities designed primarily for human workers.
The retailer also emphasized scalability. The agreement is meant to give Catalyst options to align automation with business growth and seasonal demand, while both companies work out the best use cases for humanoids across operations. The announcement did not specify how many robots will be deployed, how quickly the Reno program will expand, or what performance targets the companies expect to meet.
Partnership structure and broader market meaning
The deal also has an ownership dimension. HomePage News reported that this is the first agreement between Figure and a portfolio company of Brookfield, the global investment firm that holds significant positions in both Figure and Catalyst. Catalyst chief executive Marc Rosen framed the project as a way to modernize operations while strengthening the workforce, while Figure founder and chief executive Brett Adcock described humanoids as a standardized labor solution for multi-brand operations.
For the humanoid robotics market, the importance of this announcement lies less in novelty than in location. Retail distribution centers already use conveyors, sorting systems and fixed automation, but humanoids are being tested as flexible additions around that installed base, especially where workflows still depend on manual handling. If Catalyst expands beyond Reno, the Figure AI humanoid robots could become a measurable case study in whether general-purpose form factors can earn a place in retail logistics at portfolio scale. What remains unknown is how quickly that decision can be made and what data the companies will eventually disclose from the initial phase.
Source: homepagenews.com
