JCPenney parent Catalyst Brands wants to test out humanoid robotics in its supply chain network.
The entity, which operates a staple of apparel brands including Brooks Brothers, Aéropostale, Lucky Brand and Nautica, entered in an agreement with robotics company Figure AI to deploy humanoids in its warehouses, starting with its distribution center in Reno, Nevada.
The companies have not disclosed the scale or structure of the partnership, or how many humanoids are being deployed. But according to the fashion collective, the investment in the automation tech will support supply chain modernization across the Catalyst Brands portfolio.
Although Amazon has experimented with humanoids in select warehouses, and even has reportedly tested them to assist with parcel delivery, the apparel industry has largely strayed from the technology. The Catalyst partnership is notable as commercial agreements including humanoid tech deployment remain a retail supply chain rarity.
According to Figure, the next-gen robots can be deployed across a multi-brand portfolio instantly, thus benefiting a company like Catalyst.
“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 in a statement. “When we automate routine tasks, our associates can focus on higher-value work and better serve our customers across all our brands.”
Figure AI’s “Figure 03” models will be used in the within the 1.7 million-square-foot Nevada distribution center. According to a press release, Catalyst aims to automate repetitive, physically demanding sorting and packing tasks within warehouse using the tech, 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 operation. The computerized induction, sorting and packing system enables warehouse employees to put products into a pouch before they get transported via a conveyor belt elsewhere in the facility.
JCPenney deployed the sorting technology to ensure online orders are completed with higher accuracy and shipped out more quickly.
This new automation tech 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, Figure says.
Figure AI completed a 200-hour livestream earlier this month, in which three Figure 03 robots processed nearly 250,000 packages without experiencing a single mechanical breakdown. As part of the simulation, the humanoids used onboard cameras and AI reasoning to detect barcodes, pick up packages and place them onto conveyor belts with their barcode facing down.
The project was not error-free, with the robots sparingly dropping packages or incorrectly oriented items.
But the reported benefits of the robots appear to be fit for apparel supply chains, namely since they have adaptive fingertip sensors that can detect forces as small as three grams of pressure, or as light as a paperclip.
Such sensitivity means the humanoids can handle soft, deformable items, including poly bags, folded garments and irregular shapes without crushing or dropping them.
The company first unveiled the Figure 03 humanoid in October, noting that the robots can autonomously exit a work floor for maintenance when software or hardware issues are detected, with another unit immediately taking over operations to ensure uninterrupted uptime.
As the partnership begins, Catalyst Brands and Figure say 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 and reduce physical strain for workers 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, the global investment firm with significant positions in both Figure and Catalyst.
Although the companies never confirmed the partnership, a report from Bloomberg last April said UPS had been in talks with Figure AI to leverage the humanoid robots within its own warehousing network, which has seen a major overhaul as part of a push to automate its supply chain and cut costs.
