NEW YORK (May 26, 2026) – Catalyst Brands and humanoid robotics company Figure AI Inc. (Figure) today announced a commercial partnership beginning in its initial phase at Catalyst Brands’ Reno, Nevada Distribution Logistics Center. The partnership marks a strategic investment in automation technology designed to enhance supply chain efficiency and support operational scalability across the Catalyst Brands portfolio.
The companies aim to automate repetitive, physically demanding sorting and packing tasks, freeing associates to focus on higher-skill functions. Figure’s next-generation humanoids will first focus on aiding associates in the facility’s Joey Pouch sorting system sequencing, a state-of-the-art, computerized induction, sorting and packing system. This new automation technology will further enhance the Reno facility, which underwent a $40 million infrastructure update in 2024. The agreement allows for quick scalability, providing Catalyst Brands with optionality to align with business growth and manage seasonality in the years to come.
“As we invest in and scale our portfolio, this collaboration with Figure shows how emerging technologies can modernize our operations while strengthening our workforce,” said Marc Rosen, CEO of Catalyst Brands. “When we automate routine tasks, our associates can focus on higher-value work and better serve our customers across all our brands.”
As the partnership begins, Catalyst Brands and Figure will identify the optimal use cases for humanoid automation across their operations. The insights gathered will shape how automation is rolled out strategically to enhance operations, reduce physical strain, and create meaningful career pathways across the portfolio.
“Catalyst Brands poses a unique opportunity for Figure to partner with a company in an ambitious expansion phase,” said Brett Adcock, Founder and CEO of Figure. “As Catalyst Brands scales its multi-brand portfolio, our humanoids provide a standardized labor solution that can be deployed across diverse industries instantly. This collaboration establishes the playbook for how AI-driven hardware can serve as a primary growth engine for modern holding companies.”
This also marks the first agreement between Figure and a portfolio company of Brookfield, a leading global investment firm with significant positions in both Figure and Catalyst.
ABOUT CATALYST BRANDS
Catalyst Brands ignites America’s most beloved retail brands to make fashion accessible to all. Our portfolio features legendary department store JCPenney, as well as iconic specialty retail brands Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Lucky Brand, and Nautica.
Established in 2025, when JCPenney and the former SPARC Group combined, Catalyst Brands today operates 1,800 retail stores, shop-in-shops, and eCommerce platforms throughout the U.S. and Canada. It also serves leading wholesale accounts in North America and beyond.
For more information, visit catalystbrands.com.
ABOUT FIGURE
Figure is an AI robotics company developing autonomous general-purpose humanoid robots. The goal of the company is to ship humanoid robots with human level intelligence. Figure’s robots are engineered to perform a variety of tasks in the industrial and home markets. Figure is headquartered in San Jose, CA.
