Bigger Piece of the Pie

A group including La Pizza Loca Inc. and its president, Alex Meruelo, have increased its stake in Chicago Pizza & Brewery Inc. to 14.77%, according to regulatory documents filed Tuesday.

Buena Park-based La Pizza Loca, which is 95% owned by Meruelo, made a bid to acquire Mission Viejo’s Chicago Pizza in December, but Chicago Pizza rejected the offer. In January, Meruelo held a 7.4% stake in Chicago Pizza.

In its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the group said it intends to vote its shares in favor of Meruelo’s nomination to the board of Chicago Pizza.