Gourmet magazine editor Ruth Reichl, left, meets with chef Maggie Ruggiero in the magazine's kitchen in New York on April 10. (Richard Drew/Associated Press)

Condé Nast Publications is closing Gourmet and four of its other speciality magazines in an attempt to weather the economic downturn.

Modern Bride, Elegant Bride and Cookie, a parenting magazine established in 2005, are also to close. The parent magazine of the two bride publications, Brides, will be published every month instead of every two months.

Gourmet, which won a National Magazine Award for its photography this year, is the oldest food magazine in the U.S., having debuted in the 1940s.

Known for its rigorous testing of recipes and high production values, it has been closely followed by culinary aficionados. Condé Nast said the brand will live on in TV shows and books. It has not announced how many layoffs are involved.

Bon Appetit will continue to publish.

In a memo to employees, the publisher said the magazine shutdowns were required "to navigate the company through the economic downturn and to position us to take advantage of coming opportunities."

The magazine industry in the U.S. has been hit by a slumping ad market, with Gourmet's ad pages down 50 per cent. The food magazine also lost out to internet recipes and food writing.

Earlier this year Condé Nast killed business magazine Portfolio and lifestyle magazine, Domino.