Royal Mail has won a three-year contract with book retailer Waterstones to handle delivery of all online goods.

Purchases from Waterstones.com will be delivered through Royal Mail’s Tracked 24, Tracked 48 and International services.

Royal Mail said it was selected for its quality of service and capacity, particularly its ability to handle significant increases in volume during peak periods.

It claimed that physical books are seeing resurgence in their popularity. Sales rose 3% in the first half of 2015 compared with the same period last year - the first increase since 2012 - with digital books sales rising 2%.

Nick Landon, MD, Royal Mail Parcels, said the company is pleased to have secured the contract with a much-loved British brand, “much like Royal Mail”.

“We are proud to be supporting Waterstones in realising its ambition to be a knowledgeable national bookseller with a uniquely local approach,” he added.

Erwyn Rentzenbrink, head of stock operations at Waterstones, said: “We believe Royal Mail are a perfect fit for us, offering a reliable, professional and efficient service putting our customers first.”

Royal Mail is taking on an extra 19,000 workers for the Christmas peak.

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