<PAGE>

================================================================================

                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                           Washington, D.C. 20549

                          -------------------------

                                 FORM 10-K/A

                    AMENDMENT TO FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT

                  Filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                     The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997

                          -------------------------

                       Commission File Number 0-29474
                          BIG FLOWER HOLDINGS, INC.

                          -------------------------

                       Commission File Number 1-14084
                       BIG FLOWER PRESS HOLDINGS, INC.

               Delaware                           13-397-1556
               Delaware                           13-376-8322
       (State of Incorporation)                   (I.R.S. Employer
                                                  Identification Nos.)


                             3 East 54th Street
                             New York, NY 10022
                               (212) 521-1600
  (Address and telephone number of Registrants' Principal Excutive Offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrants (1) have filed all reports 
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the 
Registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to 
such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes (X) No ( )

As of May 31, 1998, there were approximately 19,723,000 shares of Big Flower 
Holdings Inc.'s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding. There 
is no market for the capital stock of Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc., all 
outstanding shares of which are owned by Big Flower Holdings, Inc.

================================================================================


<PAGE>

The undersigned registrants hereby amend the following items, financial 
statements, exhibits or other portions of their annual report on Form 10-K 
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 as set forth below:

1. Add Exhibit 99 as follows:


EXHIBIT
NUMBER                        DESCRIPTION

99            Financial statements and exhibits required by              *
              Form 11-K Annual Report pursuant to Section
              15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
              for the Big Flower Holdings, Inc. and 
              Subsidiaries Savings Plus 401(k) Plan



              ------------------------------
              * being filed herewith


                                      2

<PAGE>

                                 SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each 
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                          BIG FLOWER HOLDINGS, INC.


                                          /s/ Richard L. Ritchie
                                          ----------------------
                                          Richard L. Ritchie
                                          Executive Vice President and Chief
                                          Financial Officer (Principal Financial
                                          and Accounting Officer)


DATE:    June 29, 1998


                                          BIG FLOWER PRESS HOLDINGS, INC.


                                          /s/ Richard L. Ritchie
                                          ----------------------
                                          Richard L. Ritchie
                                          Executive Vice President and Chief
                                          Financial Officer (Principal Financial
                                          and Accounting Officer)


DATE:    June 29, 1998


                                      3