diff --git a/docs/progress.md b/docs/progress.md
index 23efadd..0c368b7 100644
--- a/docs/progress.md
+++ b/docs/progress.md
@@ -7,6 +7,39 @@ Updated: 2026-02-22
 - After every sensible code/documentation change set, create a git commit as
   the last step so the next agent session can pick up from clean checkpoints.
 
+## Latest Milestone (2026-02-22): MVP Chat Preference Extractor + Ingest Enrichment
+
+Implemented the first local semantic-enrichment pass so shared chat messages can
+start building inferred person preferences automatically.
+
+- `lib/features/local/chat_preference_extractor.dart` (new)
+  - added a pure Dart, local-first rule-based extractor
+  - extracts evidence-backed preference candidates from message text:
+    - `prefer X over Y` (creates like/dislike pair)
+    - `favorite ... is ...`
+    - `I love/like/enjoy ...`
+    - `I hate/dislike/don’t like ...`
+    - `allergic to ...`
+  - adds category heuristics (e.g. drink/food/hobby/environment/health)
+  - returns confidence-scored candidates with evidence snippets
+
+- `lib/features/local/local_repository.dart`
+  - integrated extractor into resolved shared-message ingest flow
+  - when a chat share is imported and linked to a profile:
+    - store raw shared message + capture moment (existing behavior)
+    - extract preference candidates from message text
+    - upsert local inferred preference signals with evidence + source metadata
+
+- Tests
+  - `test/features/local/chat_preference_extractor_test.dart` (new)
+    - extractor unit coverage for positive/negative/comparative/allergy patterns
+  - `test/features/local/local_repository_test.dart`
+    - added ingest test proving shared chat import creates inferred signals
+
+- Validation
+  - `flutter analyze` -> pass
+  - `flutter test` -> pass
+
 ## Latest Milestone (2026-02-22): Local Preference Signal Scaffolding (Inferred/Confirmed)
 
 Added a local-first data model and repository APIs for chat-derived preference
diff --git a/lib/features/local/chat_preference_extractor.dart b/lib/features/local/chat_preference_extractor.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bba147a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/features/local/chat_preference_extractor.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,311 @@
+import 'package:flutter/foundation.dart';
+import 'package:relationship_saver/features/local/local_models.dart';
+
+/// A lightweight, local-first rule-based extractor for chat-derived preferences.
+///
+/// This is intentionally conservative and evidence-backed:
+/// - returns inferred candidates with confidence
+/// - deduplicates by key + polarity
+/// - is easy to replace or augment with backend NLP later
+class ChatPreferenceExtractor {
+  const ChatPreferenceExtractor();
+
+  static const int _maxCandidates = 8;
+
+  /// Extracts preference candidates from a shared chat message.
+  List<ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate> extract(String messageText) {
+    final String text = messageText.trim();
+    if (text.isEmpty) {
+      return const <ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate>[];
+    }
+
+    final List<ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate> out =
+        <ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate>[];
+
+    void addCandidate(ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate candidate) {
+      final bool exists = out.any(
+        (ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate item) =>
+            item.key == candidate.key && item.polarity == candidate.polarity,
+      );
+      if (!exists && out.length < _maxCandidates) {
+        out.add(candidate);
+      }
+    }
+
+    for (final RegExpMatch match in _preferOverPattern.allMatches(text)) {
+      final String? preferred = _cleanPhrase(match.namedGroup('preferred'));
+      final String? over = _cleanPhrase(match.namedGroup('over'));
+      if (preferred == null || over == null) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      final String category = _inferCategory(preferred, fallback: 'general');
+      addCandidate(
+        _candidate(
+          phrase: preferred,
+          category: category,
+          polarity: PreferenceSignalPolarity.like,
+          confidence: 0.86,
+          evidenceSnippet: _extractEvidenceSnippet(text, match),
+        ),
+      );
+      addCandidate(
+        _candidate(
+          phrase: over,
+          category: _inferCategory(over, fallback: category),
+          polarity: PreferenceSignalPolarity.dislike,
+          confidence: 0.72,
+          evidenceSnippet: _extractEvidenceSnippet(text, match),
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+
+    for (final RegExpMatch match in _favoritePattern.allMatches(text)) {
+      final String? categoryRaw = _cleanPhrase(match.namedGroup('category'));
+      final String? thing = _cleanPhrase(match.namedGroup('thing'));
+      if (thing == null) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      final String category = _normalizeCategory(
+        categoryRaw ?? _inferCategory(thing, fallback: 'general'),
+      );
+      addCandidate(
+        _candidate(
+          phrase: thing,
+          category: category,
+          polarity: PreferenceSignalPolarity.like,
+          confidence: 0.9,
+          evidenceSnippet: _extractEvidenceSnippet(text, match),
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+
+    for (final RegExpMatch match in _positivePattern.allMatches(text)) {
+      final String? phrase = _cleanPhrase(match.namedGroup('thing'));
+      if (phrase == null) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      addCandidate(
+        _candidate(
+          phrase: phrase,
+          category: _inferCategory(phrase, fallback: 'general'),
+          polarity: PreferenceSignalPolarity.like,
+          confidence: 0.74,
+          evidenceSnippet: _extractEvidenceSnippet(text, match),
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+
+    for (final RegExpMatch match in _negativePattern.allMatches(text)) {
+      final String? phrase = _cleanPhrase(match.namedGroup('thing'));
+      if (phrase == null) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      addCandidate(
+        _candidate(
+          phrase: phrase,
+          category: _inferCategory(phrase, fallback: 'general'),
+          polarity: PreferenceSignalPolarity.dislike,
+          confidence: 0.8,
+          evidenceSnippet: _extractEvidenceSnippet(text, match),
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+
+    for (final RegExpMatch match in _allergyPattern.allMatches(text)) {
+      final String? phrase = _cleanPhrase(match.namedGroup('thing'));
+      if (phrase == null) {
+        continue;
+      }
+      addCandidate(
+        _candidate(
+          phrase: phrase,
+          category: 'health',
+          polarity: PreferenceSignalPolarity.dislike,
+          confidence: 0.95,
+          evidenceSnippet: _extractEvidenceSnippet(text, match),
+        ),
+      );
+    }
+
+    return out;
+  }
+
+  ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate _candidate({
+    required String phrase,
+    required String category,
+    required PreferenceSignalPolarity polarity,
+    required double confidence,
+    required String evidenceSnippet,
+  }) {
+    final String normalizedCategory = _normalizeCategory(category);
+    final String normalizedValue = _normalizeValue(phrase);
+    return ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate(
+      key: '$normalizedCategory:$normalizedValue',
+      label: _displayLabel(phrase),
+      category: normalizedCategory,
+      polarity: polarity,
+      confidence: confidence,
+      evidenceSnippet: evidenceSnippet,
+    );
+  }
+
+  String _inferCategory(String phrase, {required String fallback}) {
+    final String normalized = phrase.toLowerCase();
+    if (_containsAny(normalized, <String>[
+      'coffee',
+      'tea',
+      'matcha',
+      'espresso',
+      'latte',
+      'wine',
+      'beer',
+      'juice',
+    ])) {
+      return 'drink';
+    }
+    if (_containsAny(normalized, <String>[
+      'sushi',
+      'ramen',
+      'pizza',
+      'pasta',
+      'burger',
+      'brunch',
+      'chocolate',
+      'dessert',
+      'spicy food',
+    ])) {
+      return 'food';
+    }
+    if (_containsAny(normalized, <String>[
+      'book',
+      'books',
+      'bookstore',
+      'reading',
+      'novels',
+      'poetry',
+    ])) {
+      return 'hobby';
+    }
+    if (_containsAny(normalized, <String>[
+      'music',
+      'jazz',
+      'vinyl',
+      'concerts',
+    ])) {
+      return 'music';
+    }
+    if (_containsAny(normalized, <String>['morning', 'evening', 'night'])) {
+      return 'schedule';
+    }
+    if (_containsAny(normalized, <String>['crowds', 'clubs', 'noise'])) {
+      return 'environment';
+    }
+    return fallback;
+  }
+
+  bool _containsAny(String value, List<String> probes) {
+    for (final String probe in probes) {
+      if (value.contains(probe)) {
+        return true;
+      }
+    }
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  String _normalizeCategory(String value) {
+    final String normalized = value
+        .trim()
+        .toLowerCase()
+        .replaceAll(RegExp(r'[^a-z0-9]+'), '_')
+        .replaceAll(RegExp(r'_+'), '_')
+        .replaceAll(RegExp(r'^_|_$'), '');
+    return normalized.isEmpty ? 'general' : normalized;
+  }
+
+  String _normalizeValue(String value) {
+    return value
+        .trim()
+        .toLowerCase()
+        .replaceAll(RegExp(r'[^a-z0-9]+'), ' ')
+        .replaceAll(RegExp(r'\s+'), ' ')
+        .trim();
+  }
+
+  String _displayLabel(String value) {
+    final String clean = value.trim();
+    if (clean.isEmpty) {
+      return value;
+    }
+    return clean[0].toUpperCase() + clean.substring(1);
+  }
+
+  String? _cleanPhrase(String? raw) {
+    if (raw == null) {
+      return null;
+    }
+    final String cleaned = raw
+        .trim()
+        .replaceAll(RegExp(r'^[\s,:;.-]+'), '')
+        .replaceAll(RegExp(r'[\s,:;.!?]+$'), '')
+        .replaceAll(RegExp(r'\s+'), ' ');
+    if (cleaned.isEmpty) {
+      return null;
+    }
+    if (cleaned.length > 42) {
+      return cleaned.substring(0, 42).trim();
+    }
+    return cleaned;
+  }
+
+  String _extractEvidenceSnippet(String text, RegExpMatch match) {
+    final int start = match.start < 0 ? 0 : match.start;
+    final int end = match.end > text.length ? text.length : match.end;
+    final int prefix = (start - 16).clamp(0, text.length).toInt();
+    final int suffix = (end + 16).clamp(0, text.length).toInt();
+    return text.substring(prefix, suffix).trim();
+  }
+
+  static final RegExp _preferOverPattern = RegExp(
+    r'\b(?:i\s+)?prefer\s+(?<preferred>[^,.!?]{1,40}?)\s+over\s+(?<over>[^,.!?]{1,40}?)(?=\s+(?:and|but)\b|[,.!?]|$)',
+    caseSensitive: false,
+  );
+
+  static final RegExp _favoritePattern = RegExp(
+    r'\b(?:my\s+)?favorite(?:\s+(?<category>food|drink|color|music|movie|book))?\s+is\s+(?<thing>[^,.!?]{1,40})\b',
+    caseSensitive: false,
+  );
+
+  static final RegExp _positivePattern = RegExp(
+    r'\b(?:i\s+)?(?:really\s+)?(?:love|like|enjoy)\s+(?<thing>[^,.!?]{1,40})\b',
+    caseSensitive: false,
+  );
+
+  static final RegExp _negativePattern = RegExp(
+    r"\b(?:i\s+)?(?:(?:really\s+)?(?:hate|dislike)|don't\s+like|do\s+not\s+like|can't\s+stand|cannot\s+stand)\s+(?<thing>[^,.!?]{1,40})\b",
+    caseSensitive: false,
+  );
+
+  static final RegExp _allergyPattern = RegExp(
+    r'\b(?:i\s+am\s+)?allergic\s+to\s+(?<thing>[^,.!?]{1,40})\b',
+    caseSensitive: false,
+  );
+}
+
+@immutable
+class ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate {
+  const ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate({
+    required this.key,
+    required this.label,
+    required this.category,
+    required this.polarity,
+    required this.confidence,
+    required this.evidenceSnippet,
+  });
+
+  final String key;
+  final String label;
+  final String category;
+  final PreferenceSignalPolarity polarity;
+  final double confidence;
+  final String evidenceSnippet;
+}
diff --git a/lib/features/local/local_repository.dart b/lib/features/local/local_repository.dart
index d6492e6..bf95d91 100644
--- a/lib/features/local/local_repository.dart
+++ b/lib/features/local/local_repository.dart
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import 'dart:convert';
 
 import 'package:flutter_riverpod/flutter_riverpod.dart';
 import 'package:relationship_saver/core/config/app_config.dart';
+import 'package:relationship_saver/features/local/chat_preference_extractor.dart';
 import 'package:relationship_saver/features/local/local_models.dart';
 import 'package:relationship_saver/features/local/storage/local_data_store.dart';
 import 'package:relationship_saver/features/local/storage/local_data_store_hive.dart';
@@ -81,6 +82,8 @@ class LocalRepository extends AsyncNotifier<LocalDataState> {
   static const int _syncSchemaVersion = 1;
 
   static const Uuid _uuid = Uuid();
+  static const ChatPreferenceExtractor _chatPreferenceExtractor =
+      ChatPreferenceExtractor();
 
   @override
   Future<LocalDataState> build() async {
@@ -1856,19 +1859,20 @@ class LocalRepository extends AsyncNotifier<LocalDataState> {
       moment,
       ...current.moments,
     ];
+    final SharedMessageEntry sharedEntry = SharedMessageEntry(
+      id: 'sm-${_uuid.v4()}',
+      sourceApp: sourceApp,
+      profileId: resolvedPerson.id,
+      messageText: summary,
+      sharedAt: sharedAt,
+      importedAt: importedAt,
+      resolvedAutomatically: resolvedAutomatically,
+      sourceDisplayName: sourceDisplayName,
+      sourceUserId: sourceUserId,
+      sourceThreadId: sourceThreadId,
+    );
     final List<SharedMessageEntry> nextMessages = <SharedMessageEntry>[
-      SharedMessageEntry(
-        id: 'sm-${_uuid.v4()}',
-        sourceApp: sourceApp,
-        profileId: resolvedPerson.id,
-        messageText: summary,
-        sharedAt: sharedAt,
-        importedAt: importedAt,
-        resolvedAutomatically: resolvedAutomatically,
-        sourceDisplayName: sourceDisplayName,
-        sourceUserId: sourceUserId,
-        sourceThreadId: sourceThreadId,
-      ),
+      sharedEntry,
       ...current.sharedMessages,
     ];
     final List<SharedInboxEntry> nextInbox = consumedInboxEntryId == null
@@ -1906,6 +1910,24 @@ class LocalRepository extends AsyncNotifier<LocalDataState> {
     ];
     await _enqueueChanges(outbound);
 
+    final List<ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate> extractedSignals =
+        _chatPreferenceExtractor.extract(summary);
+    for (final ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate candidate
+        in extractedSignals) {
+      await upsertInferredPreferenceSignalObservation(
+        personId: resolvedPerson.id,
+        key: candidate.key,
+        label: candidate.label,
+        category: candidate.category,
+        polarity: candidate.polarity,
+        confidence: candidate.confidence,
+        sourceApp: sourceApp,
+        evidenceMessageId: sharedEntry.id,
+        evidenceSnippet: candidate.evidenceSnippet,
+        observedAt: sharedAt,
+      );
+    }
+
     return SharedMessageIngestResult.imported(
       profileId: resolvedPerson.id,
       profileName: resolvedPerson.name,
diff --git a/test/features/local/chat_preference_extractor_test.dart b/test/features/local/chat_preference_extractor_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1cc3d09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/features/local/chat_preference_extractor_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+import 'package:flutter_test/flutter_test.dart';
+import 'package:relationship_saver/features/local/chat_preference_extractor.dart';
+import 'package:relationship_saver/features/local/local_models.dart';
+
+void main() {
+  const ChatPreferenceExtractor extractor = ChatPreferenceExtractor();
+
+  test('extracts prefer-over like/dislike signals', () {
+    final List<ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate> result = extractor.extract(
+      'I prefer tea over coffee, especially at night.',
+    );
+
+    expect(
+      result.any(
+        (ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate item) =>
+            item.key == 'drink:tea' &&
+            item.polarity == PreferenceSignalPolarity.like,
+      ),
+      isTrue,
+    );
+    expect(
+      result.any(
+        (ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate item) =>
+            item.key == 'drink:coffee' &&
+            item.polarity == PreferenceSignalPolarity.dislike,
+      ),
+      isTrue,
+    );
+  });
+
+  test('extracts positive and negative statements with categories', () {
+    final List<ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate> result = extractor.extract(
+      "I love bookstores and I don't like loud clubs.",
+    );
+
+    expect(
+      result.any(
+        (ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate item) =>
+            item.category == 'hobby' &&
+            item.polarity == PreferenceSignalPolarity.like,
+      ),
+      isTrue,
+    );
+    expect(
+      result.any(
+        (ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate item) =>
+            item.category == 'environment' &&
+            item.polarity == PreferenceSignalPolarity.dislike,
+      ),
+      isTrue,
+    );
+  });
+
+  test('extracts allergy as high-confidence dislike signal', () {
+    final List<ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate> result = extractor.extract(
+      'I am allergic to peanuts, please remember that.',
+    );
+
+    final ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate signal = result.firstWhere(
+      (ExtractedPreferenceSignalCandidate item) => item.key == 'health:peanuts',
+    );
+    expect(signal.polarity, PreferenceSignalPolarity.dislike);
+    expect(signal.confidence, greaterThan(0.9));
+  });
+}
diff --git a/test/features/local/local_repository_test.dart b/test/features/local/local_repository_test.dart
index 0d51df9..f82291d 100644
--- a/test/features/local/local_repository_test.dart
+++ b/test/features/local/local_repository_test.dart
@@ -226,6 +226,57 @@ void main() {
     },
   );
 
+  test(
+    'ingestSharedMessage extracts chat-derived preference signals',
+    () async {
+      final ProviderContainer container = _createContainer();
+      addTearDown(container.dispose);
+
+      await container.read(localRepositoryProvider.future);
+
+      final SharedMessageIngestResult result = await container
+          .read(localRepositoryProvider.notifier)
+          .ingestSharedMessage(
+            const SharedMessageIngestInput(
+              sourceApp: 'whatsapp',
+              sourceDisplayName: 'Nora Diaz',
+              sourceUserId: 'wa:nora_001',
+              messageText:
+                  "I prefer tea over coffee and I don't like loud clubs.",
+            ),
+          );
+
+      final LocalDataState after = await container.read(
+        localRepositoryProvider.future,
+      );
+      final List<PersonPreferenceSignal> signals = after.preferenceSignals
+          .where(
+            (PersonPreferenceSignal signal) =>
+                signal.personId == result.profileId,
+          )
+          .toList(growable: false);
+
+      expect(signals, isNotEmpty);
+      expect(
+        signals.any(
+          (PersonPreferenceSignal signal) =>
+              signal.key == 'drink:tea' &&
+              signal.polarity == PreferenceSignalPolarity.like &&
+              signal.status == PreferenceSignalStatus.inferred,
+        ),
+        isTrue,
+      );
+      expect(
+        signals.any(
+          (PersonPreferenceSignal signal) =>
+              signal.key == 'drink:coffee' &&
+              signal.polarity == PreferenceSignalPolarity.dislike,
+        ),
+        isTrue,
+      );
+    },
+  );
+
   test(
     'queues near-match conflict and then uses fingerprint mapping for follow-up shares',
     () async {