Delaware North Debuts Hencraft, Challenging Shake Shack and Chick-fil-A for Fried Chicken Sandwich Dominance

The new fast casual restaurant in downtown Buffalo aims to stand out in the competitive fried chicken sandwich market.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:53pm

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A photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a gourmet fried chicken sandwich with a golden-brown breaded exterior, juicy white meat, and artisanal toppings arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing the craftsmanship and quality of Hencraft's new menu item.Hencraft's new premium fried chicken sandwich aims to elevate the fast casual dining experience with a focus on culinary innovation and quality ingredients.Buffalo Today

Delaware North, a major hospitality and food service company, has opened a new fast casual restaurant called Hencraft in downtown Buffalo, New York. The restaurant is positioning itself as a competitor to popular chains like Shake Shack and Chick-fil-A in the fried chicken sandwich market, with the company's culinary team developing multiple iterations to create their own unique take on the classic dish.

Why it matters

The fried chicken sandwich has become a highly competitive and lucrative segment of the fast food industry, with major chains vying for market share. Hencraft's entry into this space represents an effort by a prominent hospitality company to carve out a niche for itself in a crowded field, potentially shaking up the dynamics of the local Buffalo market.

The details

Hencraft, Delaware North's new fast casual restaurant, has opened in downtown Buffalo with the goal of challenging established players like Shake Shack and Chick-fil-A in the fried chicken sandwich market. The company's culinary team spent significant time developing and refining the sandwich, going through "many iterations" to create a unique offering.

  • Hencraft opened in downtown Buffalo in April 2026.

The players

Delaware North

A major hospitality and food service company that has opened the new Hencraft restaurant in downtown Buffalo.

John Kolaski

A representative from Delaware North who commented on the company's efforts to develop the Hencraft fried chicken sandwich.

Shake Shack

A popular fast casual restaurant chain that is a competitor to Hencraft in the fried chicken sandwich market.

Chick-fil-A

A major fast food chain that is also a competitor to Hencraft in the fried chicken sandwich segment.

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What they’re saying

“Our culinary team went through many iterations of what the chicken sandwich could be,”

— John Kolaski, Representative, Delaware North

The takeaway

Hencraft's entry into the competitive fried chicken sandwich market in downtown Buffalo represents an effort by a major hospitality company to establish a presence and potentially disrupt the dominance of national chains like Shake Shack and Chick-fil-A in this lucrative fast food segment.