AAA Innovations (asi/30023), in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, has announced a recall on Tito’s Vodka-branded cooler/grills that circulated in the promo industry. In a recall statement, the Norwood, NJ-based supplier said that it investigated and determined that the grills can overheat and catch fire. 

[At left] AAA Innovations is recalling this grill/cooler because it poses a fire hazard; [At right] Top view of the cooler/grill, showing the grill unit.

According to the CPSC, there have been two reports of the wood surrounding the grills burning. No injuries have been reported. “Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled cooler/grills,” the CPSC said. 

Tito’s, an Austin, TX-based brand that specializes in making vodka from corn, tweeted about the recall.

Recall on promotional grill/cooler from Summer 2016 timeframe due to fire risk. If you have one of these grills please call 800-426-7446 for incentive payment or refund. Read more: https://t.co/B5jON6lU92

— TitosVodka (@TitosVodka) October 2, 2018

AAA Innovations imported the cooler/grills from China. About 275 units sold. The cooler/grills were used as “display enhancers in retail, liquor, convenience and other stores from June 2016 through September 2016, and may have been received by consumers as promotional giveaways and purchased at charity raffles after that time.”

The CPSC describes the product as a wooden cabinet that comes with a separate cooler and grill compartment. The cooler/grill units measure approximately 35 inches high, 44 inches wide, and 16 inches deep. The words “Tito’s Handmade Vodka” are inscribed on the front of the product.

Speaking to Counselor, AAA President Jeffrey Nanus said that this is the first product recall with which the firm has been involved. “We would never want anyone to have even a small problem with anything we sell, so after we looked into this, we decided that the best and safest thing to do was to initiate a voluntary recall,” Nanus told Counselor.

The CPSC said that people affected by the recall are eligible for a refund. Officials said to contact AAA Innovations about that online at www.aaainnovations.com (click “Recall”), or by calling 800-426-7446 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

“Even though the units were made for display purposes, AAA is aware that some units were received by consumers as promotional giveaways and purchased at charity raffles,” AAA Innovations said in a statement on its website. “If a consumer actually paid for the unit, AAA will provide a refund. If a consumer did not pay for the unit, AAA will still provide the consumer with a $125 payment as incentive to participate in the recall.”

The promo supplier said it will ship impacted individuals a free box to use for returning the charcoal basket and grill portions of the unit back to AAA. Those participating in the recall will need to sign and return a form saying they will not use any portion of the cooler/grill unit for charcoal or other cooking.

“Upon receipt of the charcoal basket and grill as well as the signed form, AAA will review the materials, and upon verification, will promptly issue a refund check for transmittal,” the company’s recall statement said. “AAA estimates that the entire process should take about one-to-two weeks.”

Founded in 1909, AAA began as a manufacturer of umbrellas. The company’s website says it was the first to replace steel ribs in golf umbrellas with fiberglass, making the products less conductive. AAA, the site relates, invented the “double cover” where a second layer of fabric is used underneath in an umbrella to enhance the design. In addition to now having a comprehensive line of outdoor recreational products, AAA is also the parent company of Satchels NY, a fashion-inspired bag company.