Retail technology innovation of the week: Catalyst Brands connects with humanoid robotics firm Figure
Retail Technology Innovation of the Week is a series brought to you by RTIH, highlighting stand out deployments, launches, and initiatives by retailers and tech suppliers.
Every week, we showcase forward thinking tech plays that have impressed our Editor and the Retail Technology Innovations Report judging panel, building up to the publication of the 2026 report later this year.
And this week we’re focusing on humanoid robotics company Figure which has signed a commercial agreement with Catalyst Brands, the operator of JCPenney, Aéropostale, and Brooks Brothers. The initial phase involves Catalyst Brands’ Reno, Nevada distribution logistics centre.
The pair aim to automate repetitive, physically demanding sorting and packing tasks, freeing associates to focus on higher skill functions. Figure’s humanoids will first focus on aiding associates in the facility’s Joey Pouch sorting system sequencing, a computerised induction, sorting and packing system.
“As we invest in and scale our portfolio, this collaboration with Figure shows how emerging technologies can modernise our operations while strengthening our workforce,” says Marc Rosen, CEO at Catalyst Brands. “When we automate routine tasks, our associates can focus on higher value work and better serve our customers across all our brands.”
“Catalyst Brands poses a unique opportunity for Figure to partner with a company in an ambitious expansion phase,” says Brett Adcock, Founder and CEO at Figure. “As Catalyst Brands scales its multi-brand portfolio, our humanoids provide a standardised labour 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.”
And honourable mentions this week to...
VenHub Global
VenHub Global, a US-based autonomous smart store technology specialist, has announced the opening of its second and larger production and assembly facility in Las Vegas.
This builds on the extension of an agreement with LAX/Metro, a partnership with Circa Resort & Casino for a first of its kind autonomous smart store deployment at the property, and additional agreements for new autonomous locations across Las Vegas.
“The opening of our second production facility is a defining moment in the continuing evolution of VenHub,” says Shahan Ohanessian, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at VenHub.
“We are no longer preparing to scale; we are now fully equipped to meet our growing demand and scale rapidly. With demand growing, new partnerships taking shape, and our footprint expanding, this facility gives us the capacity and power to assemble and deploy our smart stores faster. Every smart store we deliver is a customer served, a partner advanced, and a step toward the future of autonomous retail we set out to address.”
VenHub says that it is prioritising deployments across the transit and airports, campuses and universities, corporate and government, fuel and EV charging, venues and entertainment, and non-fuel convenience and retail sectors.
Hellenic Hypermarkets Sklavenitis
Hanshow has announced a collaboration with Greek retailer Hellenic Hypermarkets Sklavenitis.
Operating over 460 stores along with distribution centres and eMarket facilities nationwide, Sklavenitis serves more than 680,000 customers daily. With a broad product assortment and high store traffic, simplifying internal processes and maintaining operational consistency are critical priorities for the smooth and reliable operation of its stores.
To support these priorities, Sklavenitis has initiated a nationwide technology roll-out in partnership with Hanshow, deploying electronic shelf labels across its store portfolio. This will standardise Hanshow's Nebular Ultra ESL series across the network. Nebular Ultra enables precise product placement and strong shelf‑level visibility, with the aim of supporting planogram execution and operational management at scale.
The deployment also establishes a digital shelf infrastructure capable of supporting future in-store innovations. Combined with technologies such as computer vision and smart shopping carts, the high precision shelf framework can enable advanced automation, real-time shelf monitoring, and new data driven retail applications as part of Sklavenitis' broader digital transformation roadmap.
"As grocery retail becomes increasingly complex and regulated, leading retailers like Sklavenitis are rethinking the role of in‑store infrastructure," says Liangyan Li, SVP and Head of Global Sales at Hanshow. "This collaboration is about building a digital foundation that supports accuracy, efficiency, and long‑term adaptability, and our role is to enable that strategy at scale."
